Liquid crystal medium

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal (LC) medium comprising a polymerizable compound, to a process for its preparation, to its use for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in an LC display, especially in an LC display of the PSA (“polymer sustained alignment”) type, and to an LC display comprising the LC medium.

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal (LC) medium comprising a polymerizable compound, to a process for its preparation, to its use for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in an LC display, especially in an LC display of the PSA (“polymer sustained alignment”) type, and to an LC display comprising it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The liquid crystal displays (LC displays) used at present are usually those of the TN (“twisted nematic”) type. However, these have the disadvantage of a strong viewing-angle dependence of the contrast.

In addition, so-called VA (“vertically aligned”) displays are known which have a broader viewing angle. The LC cell of a VA display contains a layer of an LC medium between two transparent electrodes, where the LC medium usually has a negative value of the dielectric (DC) anisotropy. In the switched-off state, the molecules of the LC layer are aligned perpendicular to the electrode surfaces (homeotropically) or have a tilted homeotropic alignment. On application of an electrical voltage to the two electrodes, a realignment of the LC molecules parallel to the electrode surfaces takes place.

Furthermore, OCB (“optically compensated bend”) displays are known which are based on a birefringence effect and have an LC layer with a so-called “bend” alignment and usually positive (DC) anisotropy. On application of an electrical voltage, a realignment of the LC molecules perpendicular to the electrode surfaces takes place. In addition, OCB displays normally contain one or more birefringent optical retardation films in order to prevent undesired transparency to light of the bend cell in the dark state. OCB displays have a broader viewing angle and shorter response times compared with TN displays.

Also known are so-called IPS (“in-plane switching”) displays, which contain an LC layer between two substrates, where the two electrodes are arranged on only one of the two substrates and preferably have intermeshed, comb-shaped structures. On application of a voltage to the electrodes, an electric field which has a significant component parallel to the LC layer is thereby generated between them. This causes realignment of the LC molecules in the layer plane.

Furthermore, so-called FFS (“fringe-field switching”) displays have been proposed (see, inter alia, S. H. Jung et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., Volume 43, No. 3, 2004, 1028), which likewise contain two electrodes on the same substrate, but, in contrast to IPS displays, only one of these is in the form of an electrode which is structured in a comb-shaped manner, and the other electrode is unstructured. A strong, so-called “fringe field” is thereby generated, i.e. a strong electric field close to the edge of the electrodes, and, throughout the cell, an electric field which has both a strong vertical component and also a strong horizontal component. Both IPS displays and also FFS displays have a low viewing-angle dependence of the contrast.

In VA displays of the more recent type, uniform alignment of the LC molecules is restricted to a plurality of relatively small domains within the LC cell. Disclinations may exist between these domains, also known as tilt domains. VA displays having tilt domains have, compared with conventional VA displays, a greater viewing-angle independence of the contrast and the grey shades. In addition, displays of this type are simpler to produce since additional treatment of the electrode surface for uniform alignment of the molecules in the switched-on state, such as, for example, by rubbing, is no longer necessary. Instead, the preferential direction of the tilt or pretilt angle is controlled by a special design of the electrodes.

In so-called MVA (“multidomain vertical alignment”) displays, this is usually achieved by the electrodes having protrusions which cause a local pretilt. As a consequence, the LC molecules are aligned parallel to the electrode surfaces in different directions in different, defined regions of the cell on application of a voltage. “Controlled” switching is thereby achieved, and the formation of interfering disclination lines is prevented. Although this arrangement improves the viewing angle of the display, it results, however, in a reduction in its transparency to light. A further development of MVA uses protrusions on only one electrode side, while the opposite electrode has slits, which improves the transparency to light. The slitted electrodes generate an inhomogeneous electric field in the LC cell on application of a voltage, meaning that controlled switching is still achieved. For further improvement of the transparency to light, the separations between the slits and protrusions can be increased, but this in turn results in a lengthening of the response times. In so-called PVA (“patterned VA”) displays, protrusions are rendered completely superfluous in that both electrodes are structured by means of slits on the opposite sides, which results in increased contrast and improved transparency to light, but is technologically difficult and makes the display more sensitive to mechanical influences (“tapping”, etc.). For many applications, such as, for example, monitors and especially TV screens, however, a shortening of the response times and an improvement in the contrast and luminance (transmission) of the display are demanded.

A further development are the so-called PS (“polymer sustained”) or PSA (“polymer sustained alignment”) displays, for which the term “polymer stabilized” is also occasionally used. In these, a small amount (for example 0.3% by weight, typically <1% by weight) of one or more polymerizable, compound(s), preferably polymerizable monomeric compound(s), is added to the LC medium and, after introduction into the LC cell, is polymerized or crosslinked in situ, usually by UV photopolymerization, between the electrodes with or without an applied electrical voltage. The polymerization is carried out at a temperature where the LC medium exhibits a liquid crystal phase, usually at room temperature. The addition of polymerizable mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds, also known as reactive mesogens or “RMs”, to the LC mixture has proven particularly suitable.

Unless indicated otherwise, the term “PSA” is used below as representative of PS displays and PSA displays.

In the meantime, the PS(A) principle is being used in diverse classical LC displays. Thus, for example, PSA-VA, PSA-OCB, PSA-IPS, PSA-FFS and PSA-TN displays are known. The polymerization of the polymerizable compound(s) preferably takes place with an applied electrical voltage in the case of PSA-VA and PSA-OCB displays, and with or without, preferably without, an applied electrical voltage in the case of PSA-IPS displays. As can be demonstrated in test cells, the PS(A) method results in a pretilt in the cell. In the case of PSA-OCB displays, for example, it is possible for the bend structure to be stabilized so that an offset voltage is unnecessary or can be reduced. In the case of PSA-VA displays, the pretilt has a positive effect on response times. For PSA-VA displays, a standard MVA or PVA pixel and electrode layout can be used. In addition, however, it is also possible, for example, to manage with only one structured electrode side and no protrusions, which significantly simplifies production and at the same time results in very good contrast at the same time as very good transparency to light.

Furthermore, the so-called posi-VA displays (“positive VA”) have proven to be a particularly suitable mode. Like in classical VA displays, the initial orientation of the LC molecules in posi-VA displays is homeotropic, i.e. substantially perpendicular to the substrates, in the initial state when no voltage is applied. However, in contrast to classical VA displays, in posi-VA displays LC media with positive dielectric anisotropy are used. Like in the usually used IPS displays, the two electrodes in posi-VA displays are arranged on only one of the two substrates, and preferably exhibit intermeshed and comb-shaped (interdigital) structures. By application of a voltage to the interdigital electrodes, which create an electrical field that is substantially parallel to the layer of the LC medium, the LC molecules are transferred into an orientation that is substantially parallel to the substrates. In posi-VA displays, too, a polymer stabilization (PSA) has proven to be advantageous, i.e. the addition of RMs to the LC medium, which are polymerized in the cell, whereby a significant reduction of the switching times could be realized.

PSA-VA displays are described, for example, in JP 10-036847 A, EP 1 170 626 A2, U.S. Pat. No. 6,861,107, U.S. Pat. No. 7,169,449, US 2004/0191428 A1, US 2006/0066793 A1 and US 2006/0103804 A1. PSA-OCB displays are described, for example, in T.-J-Chen et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 45, 2006, 2702-2704 and S. H. Kim, L.-C-Chien, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 43, 2004, 7643-7647. PSA-IPS displays are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,177,972 and Appl. Phys. Lett. 1999, 75(21), 3264. PSA-TN displays are described, for example, in Optics Express 2004, 12(7), 1221.

Like the conventional LC displays described above, PSA displays can be operated as active-matrix or passive-matrix displays. In the case of active-matrix displays, individual pixels are usually addressed by integrated, non-linear active elements, such as, for example, transistors (for example thin-film transistors (“TFTs”)), while in the case of passive-matrix displays, individual pixels are usually addressed by the multiplex method, as known from the prior art.

The PSA display may also comprise an alignment layer on one or both of the substrates forming the display cell, wherein said alignment layer is in contact with the LC medium and induces initial alignment of the LC molecules, and wherein said alignment layer is obtained by photoalignment.

In particular for monitor and especially TV applications, optimization of the response times, but also of the contrast and luminance (thus also transmission) of the LC display continues to be demanded. The PSA method can provide crucial advantages here. In particular in the case of PSA-VA, PSA-IPS, PSA-FFS and PSA-posi-VA displays, a shortening of the response times, which correlate with a measurable pretilt in test cells, can be achieved without significant adverse effects on other parameters.

In the prior art, use is made, for example, of polymerizable compounds of the following formula:

in which P denotes a polymerizable group, usually an acrylate or methacrylate group, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,169,449.

However, the problem arises that not all combinations consisting of LC mixture (also referred to as “LC host mixture” below)+polymerizable component (typically RMs) are suitable for PSA displays since, for example, an inadequate tilt or none at all becomes established or since, for example, the so-called “voltage holding ratio” (VHR or HR) is inadequate for TFT display applications. In addition, it has been found that, on use in PSA displays, the LC mixtures and RMs known from the prior art still have some disadvantages. Thus, not every known RM which is soluble in LC mixtures is suitable for use in PSA displays. In addition, it is often difficult to find a suitable selection criterion for the RM besides direct measurement of the pretilt in the PSA display. The choice of suitable RMs becomes even smaller if polymerization by means of UV light without the addition of photoinitiators is desired, which may be advantageous for certain applications.

In addition, the selected combination of LC host mixture/RM should have the lowest possible rotational viscosity and the best possible electrical properties. In particular, it should have the highest possible VHR. In PSA displays, a high VHR after irradiation with UV light is particularly necessary since UV exposure is a requisite part of the display production process, but also occurs as normal exposure during operation of the finished display.

In particular, it would be desirable to have available novel materials for PSA displays which produce a particularly small pretilt angle. Preferred materials here are those which produce a lower pretilt angle during polymerization for the same exposure time than the materials known to date, and/or through the use of which the (higher) pretilt angle that can be achieved with known materials can already be achieved after a shorter exposure time. The production time (“tact time”) of the display could thus be shortened and the costs of the production process reduced.

A further problem in the production of PSA displays is the presence or removal of residual amounts of unpolymerized RMs, in particular after the polymerization step for production of the pretilt angle in the display. For example, unreacted RMs of this type may adversely affect the properties of the display by, for example, polymerizing in an uncontrolled manner during operation after finishing of the display.

Thus, the PSA displays known from the prior art often exhibit the undesired effect of so-called “image sticking” or “image burn”, i.e. the image produced in the LC display by temporary addressing of individual pixels still remains visible even after the electric field in these pixels has been switched off or after other pixels have been addressed.

This “image sticking” can occur on the one hand if LC host mixtures having a low VHR are used. The UV component of daylight or the backlighting can cause undesired decomposition reactions of the LC molecules therein and thus initiate the production of ionic or free-radical impurities. These may accumulate, in particular, at the electrodes or the alignment layers, where they may reduce the effective applied voltage. This effect can also be observed in conventional LC displays without a polymer component.

In addition, an additional “image sticking” effect caused by the presence of unpolymerized RMs is often observed in PSA displays. Uncontrolled polymerization of the residual RMs is initiated here by UV light from the environment or by the backlighting. In the switched display areas, this changes the tilt angle after a number of addressing cycles. As a result, a change in transmission in the switched areas may occur, while it remains unchanged in the unswitched areas.

It is therefore desirable for the polymerization of the RMs to proceed as completely as possible during production of the PSA display and for the presence of unpolymerized RMs in the display to be excluded as far as possible or reduced to a minimum. To this end, materials are required which enable highly effective and complete polymerization. In addition, controlled reaction of these residual amounts would be desirable. This would be simpler if the RM polymerized more rapidly and effectively than the materials known to date.

Another problem to be solved is that the RMs of prior art do often have high melting points, and do only show limited solubility in many currently common LC mixtures, and therefore frequently tend to spontaneously crystallize out of the mixture. In addition, the risk of spontaneous polymerization prevents the LC host mixture being warmed in order to dissolve the polymerizable component, meaning that the best possible solubility even at room temperature is necessary. In addition, there is a risk of separation, for example on introduction of the LC medium into the LC display (chromatography effect), which may greatly impair the homogeneity of the display. This is further increased by the fact that the LC media are usually introduced at low temperatures in order to reduce the risk of spontaneous polymerization (see above), which in turn has an adverse effect on the solubility.

Another problem observed in prior art is that LC media for use in PSA displays, including but not limited to displays of the PSA type, do often exhibit high viscosities and, as a consequence, high switching times. In order to reduce the viscosity and switching time of the LC medium, it has been suggested in prior art to add LC compounds with an alkenyl group. However, it was observed that LC media containing alkenyl compounds often show a decrease of the reliability and stability, and a decrease of the VHR especially after exposure to UV radiation. Especially for use in PSA displays this is a considerable disadvantage, because the photo-polymerization of the RMs in the PSA display is usually carried out by exposure to UV radiation, which will then cause a VHR drop in the LC medium.

There is thus still a great demand for PSA displays, in particular of the VA and OCB type, and LC media and polymerizable compounds for use in such displays, which do not exhibit the disadvantages described above or only do so to a small extent and have improved properties. In particular, there is a great demand for PSA displays, and materials for use in PSA displays, which enable a high specific resistance at the same time as a large working-temperature range, short response times, even at low temperatures, and a low threshold voltage, a low pretilt angle, a multiplicity of grey shades, high contrast and a broad viewing angle, have high values for the “voltage holding ratio” (VHR) after UV exposure, and have low melting points and a high solubility in the LC host mixtures.

An object of the invention is to provide novel suitable materials, in particular RMs and LC media comprising same, for use in PSA displays, which do not have the disadvantages indicated above or do so to a reduced extent, polymerize as rapidly and completely as possible, enable a low pretilt angle to be established as quickly as possible, reduce or prevent the occurrence of “image sticking” in the display, and preferably at the same time enable very high specific resistance values, high VHR values, low threshold voltages and short response times, and have a high solubility in the LC media which are typically used as host mixtures in PSA displays.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel RMs, in particular for optical, electro-optical and electronic applications, and of suitable processes and intermediates for the preparation thereof.

In particular, another object of the invention is to provide polymerizable compounds which produce a greater maximum pretilt after photopolymerization, which results in the desired pretilt being achieved more quickly and thus in significantly shortened times for production of the LC display, and which are easily processable in an LC mixture.

Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent.

These objects have been achieved in accordance with the present invention by materials and processes as described in the present application. In particular, it has been found that the use of a multireactive polymerizable compound of formula I as described hereinafter in a PSA display facilitates a quick polymerization reaction, fast establishment of the desired tilt angles, and a low VHR value of the LC medium after UV photopolymerization. It has also been found that when using multireactive compounds of formula I in an LC medium containing an alkenyl compound, surprisingly the reliability and the VHR value after UV exposure were higher, compared to an LC medium with an alkenyl compound and a direactive polymerizable compound.

Furthermore, it was found that by using a multireactive compound of formula I, which comprises a spacer group between at least one of the polymerizable groups and the aromatic core, it is possible to further increase the speed of the polymerization reaction and to reduce the residual amount of unpolymerized RMs in the mixture.

Thus, the use of a multireactive polymerizable compound of formula I having one or more spacer groups allows one to exploit the advantages of an alkenyl-containing LC host mixture, like reduced viscosity and faster switching time, while avoiding the drawbacks of such a host mixture, like reduced reliability and low VHR value.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a liquid crystal (LC) medium comprising one or more polymerizable compounds of formula I below, and further comprising one or more mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds comprising an alkenyl group, wherein the alkenyl group is preferably stable to a polymerization reaction under the conditions used for the polymerization of the polymerizable compounds of formula I

in which the individual radicals have the following meanings

-   m is 0 or 1, -   P¹, P², P³ independently of each other denote a polymerizable group, -   Sp¹, Sp², Sp³ independently of each other denote a spacer group or a     single bond, wherein at least one of Sp¹, Sp² and Sp³ is different     from a single bond, -   L denotes P-Sp-, F, Cl, Br, I, —CN, —NO₂, —NCO, —NCS, —OCN, —SCN,     —C(═O)N(R^(x))₂, —C(═O)Y¹, —C(═O)R^(x), —N(R^(x))₂, optionally     substituted silyl, optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl having     5 to 20 ring atoms, or straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to     25, particularly preferably 1 to 10, C atoms, in which, in addition,     one or more non-adjacent CH₂ groups are each optionally replaced,     independently of one another, by —C(R⁰⁰)═C(R⁰⁰⁰)—, —C≡C—, —N(R⁰⁰)—,     —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, or —O—CO—O— in such a way that O     and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which,     in addition, one or more H atoms are each optionally replaced by F,     Cl, CN or P-Sp-, -   Y¹ denotes halogen, -   R⁰⁰ and R⁰⁰⁰ each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl     having 1 to 12 C atoms, -   r is 0, 1, 2 or 3, -   R^(x) denotes P-Sp-, H, halogen, straight chain, branched or cyclic     alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, wherein one or more non-adjacent     CH₂-groups are each optionally replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—,     —O—CO—, or —O—CO—O— in such a manner that O- and/or S-atoms are not     directly connected with each other, and wherein one or more H atoms     are each optionally replaced by F, Cl or P-Sp-, or optionally     substituted aryl, aryloxy, heteroaryl or heteroaryloxy in each case     having 5 to 20 ring atoms, -   P has one of the meanings given for P¹, -   Sp has one of the meanings given for Sp¹ or Sp².

The invention further relates to use of the LC medium in an LC display, preferably in the active layer or alignment layer of an LC display, wherein the LC displays are preferably of the PSA (polymer sustained alignment) type.

The invention furthermore relates to an LC medium comprising

-   -   a polymerizable component A) comprising one or more         polymerizable compounds, at least one of which is a compound of         formula I, and     -   a liquid crystalline component B), also referred to below as “LC         host mixture”, comprising one or more, preferably two or more,         low-molecular-weight (monomeric and unpolymerizable) compounds,         which are preferably selected from mesogenic or liquid         crystalline compounds, wherein at least one of these mesogenic         or liquid crystalline compounds comprises an alkenyl group,         wherein the said alkenyl group is preferably stable to a         polymerization reaction under the conditions used for the         polymerization of the polymerizable compounds.

The invention furthermore relates to an LC medium as described above and below, wherein the polymerizable compounds or the polymerizable component A) are polymerized.

The invention furthermore relates to an LC medium comprising a polymer obtainable by polymerization of one or more polymerizable compounds of formula I, optionally together with one or more additional polymerizable compounds, or by polymerization of a polymerizable component A) as described above, and further comprising one or more additional compounds, which may also be mesogenic, liquid crystalline and/or polymerizable, or a component B) as described above.

The invention furthermore relates to a process for preparing an LC medium as described above and below, comprising the steps of mixing one or more low-molecular-weight liquid crystalline compounds, or an LC host mixture or a liquid crystalline component B) as described above and below, with one or more polymerizable compounds of formula I, and optionally with further liquid crystalline compounds and/or additives.

The invention furthermore relates to the use of polymerizable compounds and LC media according to the invention in PSA displays, in particular the use in PSA displays containing an LC medium, for the production of a tilt angle in the LC medium by in-situ polymerization of the polymerizable compound(s) according to the present invention in the PSA display, preferably in an electric or magnetic field.

The invention furthermore relates to an LC display comprising one or more polymerizable compounds or an LC medium according to the invention, in particular a PSA display, particularly preferably a PSA-VA, PSA-OCB, PSA-IPS, PS-FFS, PSA-posi-VA or PSA-TN display.

The invention furthermore relates to an LC display comprising a polymer obtainable by polymerization of one or more polymerizable compounds of formula I or of a polymerizable component A) as described above, or comprising an LC medium according to the invention, in particular a PSA display, particularly preferably a PSA-VA, PSA-OCB, PSA-IPS, PS-FFS, PSA-posi-VA or PSA-TN display.

The invention furthermore relates to an LC display of the PSA type containing an LC cell having two substrates and two electrodes, where at least one substrate is transparent to light and at least one substrate has one or two electrodes, and a layer, located between the substrates, of an LC medium comprising a polymerized component and a low-molecular-weight component, where the polymerized component is obtainable by polymerization of one or more polymerizable compounds between the substrates of the LC cell in the LC medium, preferably while applying an electrical voltage to the electrodes, where at least one of the polymerizable compounds is selected from formula I, and/or wherein the LC medium is an LC medium as described above and below.

The invention furthermore relates to a process for manufacturing an LC display as described above and below, comprising the steps of filling an LC medium, which comprises one or more low-molecular-weight liquid crystalline compounds or an LC host mixture or a liquid crystalline component B), as described above and below, and one or more polymerizable compounds of formula I or a polymerizable component A) as described above and below, into an LC cell having two substrates and two electrodes as described above and below, and polymerizing the polymerizable compounds, preferably while applying an electrical voltage to the electrodes.

The PSA displays according to the invention have two electrodes, preferably in the form of transparent layers, which are applied to one or both of the substrates which form the LC cell. Either in each case one electrode is applied to each of the two substrates, as, for example, in PSA-VA, PSA-OCB or PSA-TN displays according to the invention, or both electrodes are applied to only one of the two substrates, while the other substrate has no electrode, as, for example, in PSA-posi-VA, PSA-IPS or PSA-FFS displays according to the invention.

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

As used herein, the terms “tilt” and “tilt angle” mean a tilted alignment of the LC molecules of an LC medium relative to the surfaces of the cell in an LC display (here preferably a PSA display). The tilt angle here denotes the average angle (<90°) between the longitudinal molecular axes of the LC molecules (LC director) and the surface of the plane-parallel outer plates which form the LC cell. A low value for the tilt angle (i.e. a large deviation from the 90° angle) corresponds to a large tilt here. A suitable method for measurement of the tilt angle is given in the examples. Unless indicated otherwise, tilt angle values disclosed above and below relate to this measurement method.

The term “mesogenic group” as used herein is known to the person skilled in the art and described in the literature, and means a group which, due to the anisotropy of its attracting and repelling interactions, essentially contributes to causing a liquid crystal (LC) phase in low-molecular-weight or polymeric substances. Compounds containing mesogenic groups (mesogenic compounds) do not necessarily have to have an LC phase themselves. It is also possible for mesogenic compounds to exhibit LC phase behavior only after mixing with other compounds and/or after polymerization. Typical mesogenic groups are, for example, rigid rod- or disc-shaped units. An overview of the terms and definitions used in connection with mesogenic or LC compounds is given in Pure Appl. Chem. 73(5), 888 (2001) and C. Tschierske, G. Pelzl, S. Diele, Angew. Chem. 2004, 116, 6340-6368.

The term “spacer group”, hereinafter also referred to as “Sp”, is known to the person skilled in the art and is described in the literature, see, for example, Pure Appl. Chem. 73(5), 888 (2001) and C. Tschierske, G. Pelzl, S. Diele, Angew. Chem. 2004, 116, 6340-6368. As used herein, the terms “spacer group” or “spacer” mean a flexible group, for example an alkylene group, which connects the mesogenic group and the polymerizable group(s) in a polymerizable mesogenic compound.

As used herein, the terms “reactive mesogen” and “RM” mean a compound containing one mesogenic group and one or more functional groups which are suitable for polymerization, the latter also being referred to as “polymerizable group” or “P”.

The term “polymerizable compound” as used hereinafter, unless stated otherwise, means a polymerizable monomeric compound.

The term “polymerizable” as used hereinafter, unless stated otherwise, means polymerizable under the conditions used for the polymerization of compounds containing a group P or P¹⁻³, like the compounds of formula I or the polymerizable compounds or RMs as described above and below.

As used herein, the terms “low-molecular-weight compound” and “unpolymerizable compound” mean compounds, which are usually monomeric, that do not contain a functional group that is suitable for polymerization under the usual conditions known to the person skilled in the art, in particular under the conditions used for the polymerization of the compounds containing a group P or P¹⁻³, like the polymerizable compounds or RMs as described above and below.

As used herein, the terms “active layer” and “switchable layer” mean a layer in an electrooptical display, for example an LC display, that comprises one or more molecules having structural and optical anisotropy, like for example LC molecules, which change their orientation upon an external stimulus like an electric or magnetic field, resulting in a change of the transmission of the layer for polarized or unpolarized light.

Above and below “organic group” denotes a carbon or hydrocarbon group.

“Carbon group” denotes a mono- or polyvalent organic group containing at least one carbon atom, where this either contains no further atoms (such as, for example, —C≡C—) or optionally contains one or more further atoms, such as, for example, N, O, S, B, P, Si, Se, As, Te or Ge (for example carbonyl, etc.). The term “hydrocarbon group” denotes a carbon group which additionally contains one or more H atoms and optionally one or more heteroatoms, such as, for example, N, O, S, B, P, Si, Se, As, Te or Ge.

“Halogen” denotes F, Cl, Br or I.

—CO—, —C(═O)— and —C(O)— denote a carbonyl group, i.e.

“Conjugated radical” or “conjugated group” denotes a radical or group which contains principally sp²-hybridised (or possibly also sp-hybridized) carbon atoms, which may also be replaced by corresponding heteroatoms. In the simplest case, this means the alternating presence of double and single bonds. “Principally” in this connection means that naturally (non-randomly) occurring defects which result in conjugation interruptions do not devalue the term “conjugated”. Furthermore, the term “conjugated” is likewise used in this application text if, for example, arylamine units or certain heterocycles (i.e. conjugation via N, O, P or S atoms) are located in the radical or group.

A carbon or hydrocarbon group can be a saturated or unsaturated group. Unsaturated groups are, for example, aryl, alkenyl or alkynyl groups. A carbon or hydrocarbon radical having more than 3 C atoms can be straight-chain, branched and/or cyclic and may also contain spiro links or fused rings.

The terms “alkyl”, “aryl”, “heteroaryl”, etc., also encompass polyvalent groups, for example alkylene, arylene, heteroarylene, etc.

The term “aryl” denotes an aromatic carbon group or a group derived therefrom. The term “heteroaryl” denotes “aryl” as defined above, containing one or more heteroatoms.

Preferred carbon and hydrocarbon groups are optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy and alkoxycarbonyloxy having 1 to 40, preferably 1 to 25, particularly preferably 1 to 18, C atoms, optionally substituted aryl or aryloxy having 6 to 40, preferably 6 to 25, C atoms, or optionally substituted alkylaryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryloxy, arylalkyloxy, arylcarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, arylcarbonyloxy and aryloxycarbonyloxy having 6 to 40, preferably 6 to 25, C atoms.

Further preferred carbon and hydrocarbon groups are C₁-C₄₀ alkyl, C₂-C₄₀ alkenyl, C₂-C₄₀ alkynyl, C₃-C₄₀ allyl, C₄-C₄₀ alkyldienyl, C₄-C₄₀ polyenyl, C₆-C₄₀ aryl, C₆-C₄₀ alkylaryl, C₆-C₄₀ arylalkyl, C₆-C₄₀ alkylaryloxy, C₆-C₄₀ arylalkyloxy, C₂-C₄₀ heteroaryl, C₄-C₄₀ cycloalkyl, C₄-C₄₀ cycloalkenyl, etc. Particular preference is given to C₁-C₂₂ alkyl, C₂-C₂₂ alkenyl, C₂-C₂₂ alkynyl, C₃-C₂₂ allyl, C₄-C₂₂ alkyldienyl, C₆-C₁₂ aryl, C₆-C₂₀ arylalkyl and C₂-C₂₀ heteroaryl.

Further preferred carbon and hydrocarbon groups are straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl radicals having 1 to 40, preferably 1 to 25, C atoms, which are unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted by F, Cl, Br, I or CN and in which one or more non-adjacent CH₂ groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by —C(R^(x))═C(R^(x))—, —C≡C—, —N(R^(x))—, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —O—CO—O— in such a way that 0 and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another.

R^(x) preferably denotes H, halogen, a straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl chain having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent C atoms may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —O—CO—O— and in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by fluorine, an optionally substituted aryl or aryloxy group having 6 to 40 C atoms, or an optionally substituted heteroaryl or heteroaryloxy group having 2 to 40 C atoms.

Preferred alkoxy groups are, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, 2-methoxy-ethoxy, n-propoxy, i-propoxy, n-butoxy, i-butoxy, s-butoxy, t-butoxy, 2-methylbutoxy, n-pentoxy, n-hexoxy, n-heptoxy, n-octoxy, n-nonoxy, n-decoxy, n-undecoxy, n-dodecoxy, etc.

Preferred alkyl groups are, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, s-butyl, t-butyl, 2-methylbutyl, n-pentyl, s-pentyl, cyclopentyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-heptyl, cycloheptyl, n-octyl, cyclooctyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, dodecanyl, trifluoromethyl, perfluoro-n-butyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, perfluorooctyl, perfluorohexyl, etc.

Preferred alkenyl groups are, for example, vinyl, ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl, cyclopentenyl, hexenyl, cyclohexenyl, heptenyl, cycloheptenyl, octenyl, cyclooctenyl, etc.

Preferred alkynyl groups are, for example, ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, pentynyl, hexynyl, octynyl, etc.

Preferred alkoxy groups are, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, 2-methoxy-ethoxy, n-propoxy, i-propoxy, n-butoxy, i-butoxy, s-butoxy, t-butoxy, 2-methylbutoxy, n-pentoxy, n-hexoxy, n-heptoxy, n-octoxy, n-nonoxy, n-decoxy, n-undecoxy, n-dodecoxy, etc.

Preferred amino groups are, for example, dimethylamino, methylamino, methylphenylamino, phenylamino, etc.

Further preferred carbon and hydrocarbon groups are aryl and heteroaryl groups, which preferably contain from 3 to 20 ring atoms. The aryl and heteroaryl groups can be monocyclic, i.e., containing one ring, or polycyclic, i.e., containing two or more rings. A polycyclic aryl or heteroaryl group may contain fused rings (like for example in a naphthalene group) or covalently bonded rings (like for example in a biphenyl group), or both fused rings and covalently bonded rings. Heteroaryl groups contain one or more heteroatoms preferably selected from O, N, S and Se.

Particular preference is given to mono-, bi- or tricyclic aryl groups having 5 to 25 C atoms and mono-, bi- or tricyclic heteroaryl groups having 3 to 25 ring atoms, which optionally contain fused rings and are optionally substituted. Preference is furthermore given to 5-, 6- or 7-membered aryl and heteroaryl groups, in which, in addition, one or more CH groups may be replaced by N, S or O in such a way that O atoms and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another.

Preferred aryl groups are, for example, phenyl, biphenyl, terphenyl, [1,1′:3′,1″]terphenyl-2′-yl, naphthyl, anthracene, binaphthyl, phenanthrene, 9,10-dihydro-phenanthrene, pyrene, dihydropyrene, chrysene, perylene, tetracene, pentacene, benzopyrene, fluorene, indene, indenofluorene, spirobifluorene, etc.

Preferred heteroaryl groups are, for example, 5-membered rings, such as pyrrole, pyrazole, imidazole, 1,2,3-triazole, 1,2,4-triazole, tetrazole, furan, thiophene, selenophene, oxazole, isoxazole, 1,2-thiazole, 1,3-thiazole, 1,2,3-oxadiazole, 1,2,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,5-oxadiazole, 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,3-thiadiazole, 1,2,4-thiadiazole, 1,2,5-thiadiazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole, 6-membered rings, such as pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, 1,3,5-triazine, 1,2,4-triazine, 1,2,3-triazine, 1,2,4,5-tetrazine, 1,2,3,4-tetrazine, 1,2,3,5-tetrazine, or condensed groups, such as indole, isoindole, indolizine, indazole, benzimidazole, benzotriazole, purine, naphthimidazole, phenanthrimidazole, pyridimidazole, pyrazinimidazole, quinoxalinimidazole, benzoxazole, naphthoxazole, anthroxazole, phenanthroxazole, isoxazole, benzothiazole, benzofuran, isobenzofuran, dibenzofuran, quinoline, isoquinoline, pteridine, benzo-5,6-quinoline, benzo-6,7-quinoline, benzo-7,8-quinoline, benzoisoquin-oline, acridine, phenothiazine, phenoxazine, benzopyridazine, benzopyrimidine, quinoxaline, phenazine, naphthyridine, azacarbazole, benzocarboline, phenanthridine, phenanthroline, thieno[2,3b]thiophene, thieno[3,2b]thiophene, dithienothiophene, isobenzothiophene, dibenzothiophene, benzothiadiazothiophene, or combinations of these groups.

The aryl and heteroaryl groups mentioned above and below may also be substituted by alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkyl, fluorine, fluoroalkyl or further aryl or heteroaryl groups.

Further preferred carbon and hydrocarbon groups are non-aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic groups, which preferably contain from 3 to 20 ring atoms. The carbocyclic and heterocyclic groups may contain saturated rings, i.e., rings that are composed exclusively of single bonds, and/or partially unsaturated rings, i.e., rings which are composed of single bonds and multiple bonds like e.g. double bonds. Heterocyclic groups contain one or more hetero atoms preferably selected from Si, O, N, S and Se.

The non-aromatic carbocyclic and heterocyclic groups can be monocyclic, i.e., containing only one ring, or polycyclic, i.e., containing two or more rings. A polycyclic carbocyclic or heterocyclic group may contain fused rings (like for example in decahydronaphthalene or bicyclo[2.2.1]octane) or covalently bonded rings (like for example in 1,1′-bicyclohexane), or both fused rings and covalently bonded rings.

Particular preference is given to non-aromatic carbocyclic and heterocyclic groups that contain only saturated rings. Preference is furthermore given to non-aromatic carbocyclic and heterocyclic groups that are mono-, bi- or tricyclic, have 5 to 25 ring atoms, optionally contain fused rings, and are optionally substituted. Preference is furthermore given to 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-membered carbocyclic groups, in which, in addition, one or more C atoms may be replaced by Si and/or one or more CH groups may be replaced by N and/or one or more non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O— and/or —S—.

Preferred carbocyclic and heterocyclic groups are, for example, 5-membered groups, such as cyclopentane, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrothiofuran, pyrrolidine, 6-membered groups, such as cyclohexane, silinane, cyclohexene, tetrahydropyran, tetrahydrothiopyran, 1,3-dioxane, 1,3-dithiane, piperidine, 7-membered groups, such as cycloheptane, and fused groups, such as tetrahydronaphthalene, decahydronaphthalene, indane, bicyclo[1.1.1]-pentane-1,3-diyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1,4-diyl, spiro[3.3]heptane-2,6-diyl, octahydro-4,7-methanoindane-2,5-diyl.

Preferred substituents are, for example, solubility-promoting groups, such as alkyl or alkoxy, electron-withdrawing groups, such as fluorine, nitro or nitrile, or substituents for increasing the glass transition temperature (Tg) in the polymer, in particular bulky groups, such as, for example, t-butyl or optionally substituted aryl groups.

Further preferred substituents, also referred to as “L” above and below, are, for example, F, Cl, Br, I, —CN, —NO₂, —NCO, —NCS, —OCN, —SCN, —C(═O)N(R^(x))₂, —C(═O)Y¹, —C(═O)R^(x), —N(R^(x))₂, in which R^(x) has the meaning indicated above and Y¹ denotes halogen, optionally substituted silyl or aryl having 6 to 40, preferably 6 to 20, C atoms, and straight-chain or branched alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which one or more H atoms are each optionally replaced by F or Cl.

“Substituted silyl or aryl” preferably means substituted by halogen, —CN, R⁰, —OR⁰, —CO—R⁰, —CO—O—R⁰, —O—CO—R⁰ or —O—CO—O—R⁰, in which R⁰ is H or alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms.

Particularly preferred substituents L are, for example, F, Cl, CN, NO₂, CH₃, C₂H₅, OCH₃, OC₂H₅, COCH₃, COC₂H₅, COOCH₃, COOC₂H₅, CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, OC₂F₅, furthermore phenyl.

is preferably

in which L has one of the meanings indicated above.

The polymerizable group (P, P¹, P², P³) is a group which is suitable for a polymerization reaction, such as, for example, free-radical or ionic chain polymerization, polyaddition or polycondensation, or for a polymer-analogous reaction, for example addition or condensation onto a main polymer chain. Particular preference is given to groups for chain polymerization, in particular those containing a C═C double bond or —C≡C— triple bond, and groups which are suitable for polymerization with ring opening, such as, for example, oxetane or epoxide groups.

Preferred polymerizable groups are selected from the group consisting of CH₂═CW¹—CO—O—, CH₂═CW¹—CO—,

CH₂═CW²—(O)_(k3)—, CW¹═CH—CO—(O)_(k3)—, CW¹═CH—CO—NH—, CH₂═CW¹—CO—NH—, CH₃—CH═CH—O—, (CH₂═CH)₂CH—OCO—, (CH₂═CH—CH₂)₂CH—OCO—, (CH₂═CH)₂CH—O—, (CH₂═CH—CH₂)₂N—, (CH₂═CH—CH₂)₂N—CO—, HO—CW²W³—, HS—CW²W³—, HW²N—, HO—CW²W³—NH—, CH₂═CW¹—CO—NH—, CH₂═CH—(COO)_(k1)-Phe-(O)_(k2)—, CH₂═CH—(CO)_(k1)-Phe-(O)_(k2)—, Phe-CH═CH—, HOOC—, OCN— and W⁴W⁵W⁶Si—, in which W¹ denotes H, F, Cl, CN, CF₃, phenyl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, F, Cl or CH₃, W² and W³ each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, methyl, ethyl or n-propyl, W⁴, W⁵ and W⁶ each, independently of one another, denote Cl, oxaalkyl or oxacarbonylalkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, W⁷ and W⁸ each, independently of one another, denote H, Cl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, Phe denotes 1,4-phenylene, which is optionally substituted by one or more non-polymerizable radicals Las defined above, k₁, k₂ and k₃ each, independently of one another, denote 0 or 1, k₃ preferably denotes 1, and k₄ denotes an integer from 1 to 10.

Particularly preferred polymerizable groups are selected from the group consisting of CH₂═CW¹—CO—O—, CH₂═CW¹—CO—,

CH₂═CW²—O—, CH₂═CW²—, CW¹═CH—CO—(O)_(k3)—, CW¹═CH—CO—NH—, CH₂═CW¹—CO—NH—, (CH₂═CH)₂CH—OCO—, (CH₂═CH—CH₂)₂CH—OCO—, (CH₂═CH)₂CH—O—, (CH₂═CH—CH₂)₂N—, (CH₂═CH—CH₂)₂N—CO—, CH₂═CW¹—CO—NH—, CH₂═CH—(COO)_(k1)-Phe-(O)_(k2)—, CH₂═CH—(CO)_(k1)-Phe-(O)_(k2)—, Phe-CH═CH— and W⁴W⁵W⁶Si—, in which W¹ denotes H, F, Cl, CN, CF₃, phenyl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, F, Cl or CH₃, W² and W³ each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, methyl, ethyl or n-propyl, W⁴, W⁵ and W⁶ each, independently of one another, denote Cl, oxaalkyl or oxacarbonylalkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, W⁷ and W⁸ each, independently of one another, denote H, Cl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, Phe denotes 1,4-phenylene, k₁, k₂ and k₃ each, independently of one another, denote 0 or 1, k₃ preferably denotes 1, and k₄ denotes an integer from 1 to 10.

Very particularly preferred polymerizable groups are selected from the group consisting of CH₂═CW¹—CO—O—, in particular CH₂═CH—CO—O—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—CO—O— and CH₂═CF—CO—O—, furthermore CH₂═CH—O—, (CH₂═CH)₂CH—O—CO—, (CH₂═CH)₂CH—O—,

Further very particularly preferred polymerizable groups are selected from the group consisting of vinyl, vinyloxy, acrylate, methacrylate, fluoroacrylate, chloroacrylate, oxetane and epoxide groups, and particularly preferably denote an acrylate, methacrylate or oxetane group.

The spacer groups Sp, Sp¹, Sp² and Sp^(a) are preferably selected of the formula Sp′-X′, wherein Sp′ is linked to the polymerizable group (so that e.g. the radical P-Sp-, P¹-Sp¹-, P²-Sp²- or P³-Sp³- is of the formula P-Sp′-X′ or P^(1/2/3)-Sp′-X′—, respectively), wherein Sp′ and X′ have the following meanings:

-   Sp′ denotes straight-chain or branched alkylene having 1 to 20,     preferably 1 to 15, C atoms, which is optionally mono- or     polysubstituted by F, Cl, Br, I, CN or P, and in which, in addition,     one or more non-adjacent CH₂ groups may each be replaced,     independently of one another, by —O—, —S—, —NH—, —N(R⁰)—,     —Si(R⁰⁰R⁰⁰⁰)—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —O—CO—O—, —S—CO—, —CO—S—,     —N(R⁰⁰)—CO—O—, —O—CO—N(R⁰⁰)—, —N(R⁰⁰)—CO—N(R⁰⁰)—, —CH═CH— or —C≡C—     in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one     another, -   X′ denotes —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —O—CO—O—, —CO—N(R⁰⁰)—,     —N(R⁰⁰)—CO—, —N(R⁰⁰)—CO—N(R⁰⁰)—, —OCH₂—, —CH₂O—, —SCH₂—, —CH₂S—,     —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CF₂S—, —SCF₂—, —CF₂CH₂—, —CH₂CF₂—, —CF₂CF₂—,     —CH═N—, —N═CH—, —N═N—, —CH═CR⁰—, —CY²═CY³—, —C≡C—, —CH═CH—CO—O—,     —O—CO—CH═CH— or a single bond, wherein X′ denotes a single bond if     it is adjacent to an ester group (0-CO or CO—O) in formula I, -   R⁰, R⁰⁰ and R⁰⁰⁰ each, independently of one another, denote H or     alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, -   Y² and Y³ each, independently of one another, denote H, F, Cl or CN,     and P is as defined in formula I. -   X′ is preferably —O—, —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —COO—, —O—COO—, —CO—NR⁰—,     —NR⁰—CO—, —NR⁰—CO—NR⁰— or a single bond, very preferably —O— or a     single bond.

Preferred groups Sp, Sp¹, Sp², Sp³ and Sp′-X′ include, without limitation, *—(CH₂)_(p1)—, *—(CH₂)_(p2)—O—(CH₂)_(p3)—, *—(CH₂)_(p2)—S—(CH₂)_(p3)—, *—(CH₂)_(p2)—NH—(CH₂)_(p3)—, *—(CH₂)_(p1)—O—, *—(CH₂)_(p1)—CO—, *—(CH₂)_(p1)—CO—O—, *—(CH₂)_(p1)—O—CO— and

wherein the asterisk (*) denotes the link to the respective polymerizable group(s), p1 is an integer from 1 to 12, preferably from 1 to 6, and p2 and p3 are, independently of each other, an integer from 1 to 6, preferably 1, 2 or 3.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to compounds of formula I wherein the spacer groups Sp, Sp¹, Sp² and Sp³ denote Sp′-X′ in which Sp′ is selected from straight-chain alkylene as defined above.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to compounds of formula I containing at least one group P-Sp-, P¹-Sp¹-, P²-Sp²- or P³-Sp³-, wherein Sp, Sp¹, Sp² or Sp³, respectively, denote Sp′-X′ in which Sp′ is branched alkylene that is substituted by a group P as defined above (branched polymerizable groups).

Further preferred compounds of formula I are those in which

-   -   m is 0,     -   m is 1,     -   P, P¹, P² and P³ are selected from the group consisting of         acrylate, methacrylate and oxetane,     -   Sp¹ is a single bond,     -   Sp¹ is a single bond and Sp² and Sp³ are each different from a         single bond,     -   Sp¹ is different from a single bond,     -   Sp¹ is different from a single bond, and Sp² and Sp³ are each a         single bond,     -   Sp¹, Sp² and Sp³ are each different from a single bond,     -   the compounds of formula I contain only three polymerizable         groups (which are represented by the groups P¹, P² and P³ shown         in formula I),     -   the compounds of formula I do not contain any further         polymerizable group apart of the three groups P¹, P² and P³,     -   L does not denote or contain a polymerizable group,     -   L does not denote or contain a group P-Sp-,     -   at least one of the benzene rings in formula I is substituted by         a group L that is different from P-Sp- and is not polymerizable,         and is preferably selected from F, Cl, —CN and straight-chain or         branched alkyl having 1 to 25, particularly preferably 1 to 10,         C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH₂         groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by         —C(R⁰⁰)═C(R⁰⁰⁰)—, —C≡C—, —N(R⁰⁰)—, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—,         —O—CO—, —O—CO—O— in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not         linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one         or more H atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, Br, I or CN,     -   at least one of the benzene rings in formula I is substituted by         one or two fluorine atoms.

Preferred compounds of formula I are selected from the following subformulae:

wherein P¹, P², P³, Sp¹, Sp², Sp^(a), L and r have the meanings given in formula I or one of the preferred meanings as described above and below.

Especially preferred are compounds of formula I1, I2 and I3.

Very preferred compounds of formula I are selected from the following subformulae:

wherein P¹, P² and P³ have the meanings given in formula I or one of the preferred meanings as described above and below, X is on each occurrence identically or differently —O—, —CO—O—, —O—CO— or a single bond, preferably —O— or a single bond, m and n are independently of each other 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, and in each formula one of m and n is different from 0.

Further preferred compounds of formula I are selected from the following subformulae:

Further preferred are compounds of subformulae I1-1-1 to I5-8-1 as listed above, wherein the methacrylate groups are replaced by acrylate groups.

The compounds of formula I and its sub-formulae can be prepared by or analogously to processes known to the person skilled in the art and described in standard works of organic chemistry, such as, for example, in Houben-Weyl, Methoden der organischen Chemie [Methods of Organic Chemistry], Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart. Suitable methods for preparing trireactive reactive mesogens are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 8,313,669.

The compounds of formula I can be synthesized for example by esterification or etherification of corresponding intermediates wherein the polymerizable groups P and P^(1,2,3) are replaced by OH groups, using corresponding acids, acid derivatives, or halogenated compounds containing a polymerizable group P or P^(1,2,3).

As exemplarily shown in Scheme 1, acrylic or methacrylic esters (wherein Phe denotes phenylene and Sp^(1,2,3) and A have the meanings given above, and “Acr” denotes an acrylate or methacrylate group) can be prepared by esterification of the corresponding alcohols with acid derivatives like, for example, (meth)acryloyl chloride or (meth)acrylic anhydride in the presence of a base like pyridine or triethyl amine, and 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP). Alternatively the esters can be prepared by esterification of the alcohols with (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of a dehydrating reagent, for example according to Steglich with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) or N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and DMAP.

The intermediates can be synthesized according to or in analogy to known methods that are described in the literature.

Further methods of preparing compounds of formula and their intermediates are exemplarily shown in the reaction schemes below.

Other compounds of formula I can be prepared in analogy to the methods described above.

For the production of PSA displays, the polymerizable compounds are polymerized or crosslinked (if one compound contains two or more polymerizable groups) by in-situ polymerization in the LC medium between the substrates of the LC display with application of a voltage. The polymerization can be carried out in one step. It is also possible firstly to carry out the polymerization with application of a voltage in a first step in order to produce a pretilt angle, and subsequently, in a second polymerization step without an applied voltage, to polymerize or crosslink the compounds which have not reacted in the first step (“end curing”).

Suitable and preferred polymerization methods are, for example, thermal or photopolymerization, preferably photopolymerization, in particular UV photopolymerization. One or more initiators can optionally also be added here. Suitable conditions for the polymerization and suitable types and amounts of initiators are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature. Suitable for free-radical polymerization are, for example, the commercially available photoinitiators Irgacure651®, Irgacure184®, Irgacure907®, Irgacure369® or Darocure1173® (Ciba AG). If an initiator is employed, its proportion is preferably 0.001 to 5% by weight, particularly preferably 0.001 to 1% by weight.

The polymerizable compounds according to the invention are also suitable for polymerization without an initiator, which is accompanied by considerable advantages, such, for example, lower material costs and in particular less contamination of the LC medium by possible residual amounts of the initiator or degradation products thereof. The polymerization can thus also be carried out without the addition of an initiator. In a preferred embodiment, the LC medium thus comprises no polymerization initiator.

The polymerizable component A) or the LC medium may also comprise one or more stabilizers in order to prevent undesired spontaneous polymerization of the RMs, for example during storage or transport. Suitable types and amounts of stabilizers are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature. Particularly suitable are, for example, the commercially available stabilizers from the Irganox® series (Ciba AG), such as, for example, Irganox® 1076. If stabilizers are employed, their proportion, based on the total amount of RMs or the polymerizable component A), is preferably 10-500,000 ppm, particularly preferably 50-50,000 ppm.

The polymerizable component A) or the LC medium may also comprise one or more chiral dopants, for example to induce a twisted molecular structure. Suitable types and amounts of chiral dopants are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature. Particularly suitable are, for example, the commercially available chiral dopants R/S-811, R/S-1011, R/S-2011, R/S-3011, R/S-4011, or R/S-5011 (Merck KGaA). If chiral dopants are employed, their proportion, based on the total LC medium comprising both components A) and B), is preferably 0.001 to 15% by weight, particularly preferably 0.1 to 5% by weight.

In a further preferred embodiment the LC medium does not contain chiral compounds.

Preferably the LC medium according to the present invention does essentially consist of one or more polymerizable compounds of formula I and an LC host mixture as described above and below. However, the LC medium or LC host mixture may additionally comprise one or more further components or additives, preferably selected from the list including but not limited to co-monomers, chiral dopants, polymerization initiators, inhibitors, stabilizers, surfactants, wetting agents, lubricating agents, dispersing agents, hydrophobing agents, adhesive agents, flow improvers, defoaming agents, deaerators, diluents, reactive diluents, auxiliaries, colorants, dyes, pigments and nanoparticles.

The LC media according to the invention for use in PSA displays preferably comprise from >0 to <5% by weight, particularly preferably from >0 to <1% by weight, very particularly preferably from 0.01 to 0.5% by weight, of polymerizable compounds, in particular polymerizable compounds of formula I and its subformulae.

Particular preference is given to LC media comprising one, two or three polymerizable compounds according to the invention.

Preference is furthermore given to LC media in which the polymerizable component (component A) comprises exclusively polymerizable compounds according to the invention.

Preference is furthermore given to LC media in which component B) is an LC compound or an LC mixture which has a nematic liquid crystal phase, and preferably has no chiral liquid crystal phase.

Preference is furthermore given to achiral polymerizable compounds according to the invention and LC media in which the compounds of component A) and/or B) are selected exclusively from the group consisting of achiral compounds.

Preference is furthermore given to LC media in which the polymerizable component or component A) comprises one or more polymerizable compounds according to the invention containing one polymerizable group (monoreactive) and one or more polymerizable compounds according to the invention containing two or more, preferably two, polymerizable groups (di- or multireactive).

Preference is furthermore given to PSA displays and LC media in which the polymerizable component or component A) comprises exclusively polymerizable compounds according to the invention containing two polymerizable groups (direactive).

The proportion of the polymerizable component or component A) in the LC media according to the invention is preferably from >0 to <5%, particularly preferably from >0 to <1%, very particularly preferably from 0.01 to 0.5%.

The proportion of the liquid crystalline component or component B) in the LC media according to the invention is preferably from 95 to <100%, particularly preferably from 99 to <100%.

The polymerizable compounds according to the invention can be polymerized individually, but it is also possible to polymerize mixtures which comprise two or more polymerizable compounds according to the invention, or mixtures comprising one or more polymerizable compounds according to the invention and one or more further polymerizable compounds (“co-monomers”), which are preferably mesogenic or liquid crystalline. In the case of polymerization of such mixtures, copolymers are formed. The invention furthermore relates to the polymerizable mixtures mentioned above and below. The polymerizable compounds and comonomers are mesogenic or non-mesogenic, preferably mesogenic or liquid crystalline.

In a preferred embodiment the LC medium contains one or more polymerizable compounds having only one polymerizable group (monoreactive) and one or more polymerizable compounds two or more polymerizable groups.

In another preferred embodiment the LC medium contains only polymerizable compounds having two or more polymerizable groups.

In another preferred embodiment the LC medium contains only polymerizable compounds having exactly three polymerizable groups.

In another preferred embodiment the LC medium contains only polymerizable compounds selected from formula I, very preferably having exactly three polymerizable groups.

Suitable and preferred mesogenic comonomers, particularly for use in PSA displays, are selected, for example, from the following formulae:

in which the individual radicals have the following meanings:

-   P¹, P² and P³ each, independently of one another, denote a     polymerizable group having one of the meanings indicated above and     below for P¹, particularly preferably an acrylate, methacrylate,     fluoroacrylate, oxetane, vinyl, vinyloxy or epoxide group, -   Sp¹, Sp² and Sp^(a) each, independently of one another, denote a     single bond or a spacer group having one of the meanings indicated     above and below for Sp¹, and particularly preferably denote     —(CH₂)_(p1)—, —(CH₂)_(p1)—O—, —(CH₂)_(p1)—CO—O—, —(CH₂)_(p1)—O—CO—     or —(CH₂)_(p1)—O—CO—O—, in which p1 is an integer from 1 to 12,     where, in addition, one or more of the radicals P¹-Sp¹-, P¹—Sp²- and     P³-Sp³- may denote R^(aa), with the proviso that at least one of the     radicals P¹-Sp¹-, P²—Sp² and P³—Sp³- present is different from     R^(aa), -   R^(aa) denotes H, F, Cl, CN or straight-chain or branched alkyl     having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more     non-adjacent CH₂ groups may each be replaced, independently of one     another, by C(R⁰)═C(R⁰⁰)—, —C≡C—, —N(R⁰)—, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—,     —O—CO—, —O—CO—O— in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked     directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H     atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, CN or P¹-Sp¹-, particularly     preferably straight-chain or branched, optionally mono- or     polyfluorinated alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylcarbonyl,     alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 1 to 12     C atoms (where the alkenyl and alkynyl radicals have at least two C     atoms and the branched radicals have at least three C atoms), -   R⁰, R⁰⁰ each, independently of one another and identically or     differently on each occurrence, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 12 C     atoms, -   X¹, X² and X³ each, independently of one another, denote —CO—O—,     —O—CO— or a single bond, -   Z¹ denotes —O—, —CO—, —C(R^(y)R^(z))— or —CF₂CF₂—, -   R^(y) and R^(z) each, independently of one another, denote H, F, CH₃     or CF₃, -   Z² and Z³ each, independently of one another, denote —CO—O—, —O—CO—,     —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂— or —(CH₂)_(n)—, where n is 2, 3 or 4, -   L on each occurrence, identically or differently, denotes F, Cl, CN     or straight-chain or branched, optionally mono- or polyfluorinated     alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl,     alkylcarbonyloxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 1 to 12 C atoms,     preferably F, -   L′ and L″ each, independently of one another, denote H, F or Cl, -   r denotes 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, -   s denotes 0, 1, 2 or 3, -   t denotes 0, 1 or 2, -   x denotes 0 or 1.

Especially preferred are compounds of formulae M1 to M28.

In the compounds of formulae M1 to M42

is preferably

wherein L on each occurrence, identically or differently, has one of the meanings given above or below, and is preferably F, Cl, CN, NO₂, CH₃, C₂H₅, C(CH₃)₃, CH(CH₃)₂, CH₂CH(CH₃)C₂H₅, OCH₃, OC₂H₅, COCH₃, COC₂H₅, COOCH₃, COOC₂H₅, CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, OC₂F₅ or P-Sp-, very preferably F, Cl, CN, CH₃, C₂H₅, OCH₃, COCH₃, OCF₃ or P-Sp-, more preferably F, Cl, CH₃, OCH₃, COCH₃ or OCF₃, especially F or CH₃.

Besides the polymerizable compounds described above, the LC media for use in the LC displays according to the invention comprise an LC mixture (“host mixture”) comprising one or more, preferably two or more, low-molecular-weight (i.e. monomeric or unpolymerized) compounds. The latter are stable or unreactive to a polymerization reaction under the conditions used for polymerization of the polymerizable compounds. In principle, any LC mixture which is suitable for use in conventional VA and OCB displays is suitable as host mixture. Suitable LC mixtures are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature, for example mixtures in VA displays in EP 1 378 557 A1 and mixtures for OCB displays in EP 1 306 418 A1 and DE 102 24 046 A1.

In addition to the polymerizable compounds of formula I the LC medium according to the present invention comprises one or more mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds comprising an alkenyl group, (“alkenyl compound”), where this alkenyl group is preferably stable to a polymerization reaction under the conditions used for the polymerization of the polymerizable compounds of formula I or of the other polymerizable compounds contained in the LC medium.

Compared to reactive mesogens known from prior art the polymerizable compounds of formula I in such an LC medium show improved properties, like solubility, reactivity or capability of generating a tilt angle.

The LC medium preferably comprises

-   -   a polymerizable component A) comprising one or more         polymerizable compounds, at least one of which is a compound of         formula I, and     -   a liquid crystalline component B), also referred to below as “LC         host mixture”, comprising one or more mesogenic or liquid         crystalline compounds comprising an alkenyl group.

The LC host mixture is preferably a nematic LC mixture, and preferably does not have a chiral LC phase.

The alkenyl groups in the alkenyl compounds are preferably selected from straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkenyl, in particular having 2 to 25 C atoms, particularly preferably having 2 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —O—CO—O— in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by F and/or Cl.

Preferred alkenyl groups are straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 7 C atoms and cyclohexenyl, in particular ethenyl (vinyl), propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, heptenyl, 1,4-cyclohexen-1-yl and 1,4-cyclohexen-3-yl.

The concentration of compounds containing an alkenyl group in the LC host mixture (i.e. without any polymerizable compounds) is preferably from 5% to 100%, very preferably from 20% to 60%.

Especially preferred are LC mixtures containing 1 to 5, preferably 1, 2 or 3 compounds having an alkenyl group.

The mesogenic and liquid crystalline compounds containing an alkenyl group are preferably selected from the following formulae:

in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, each, independently of one another, have the following meaning:

-   R^(A1) is alkenyl having 2 to 9 C atoms or, if at least one of the     rings X, Y and Z denotes cyclohexenyl, also one of the meanings of     R^(A2), -   R^(A2) is alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one     or two non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—,     —CO—, —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked     directly to one another, -   Z^(x) is —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CO—O—,     —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CH—CH₂O—, or a single bond, preferably     a single bond, -   L¹⁻⁴ are each, independently of one another, H, F, Cl, OCF₃, CF₃,     CH₃, CH₂F or CHF₂H, preferably H, F or Cl, -   x is 1 or 2, -   z is 0 or 1.

R^(A2) is preferably straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 8 C atoms or straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 7 C atoms.

The LC medium preferably comprises no compounds containing a terminal vinyloxy group (—O—CH═CH₂), in particular no compounds of the formula A or B in which R¹¹ or R¹² denotes or contains a terminal vinyloxy group (—O—CH═CH₂).

Preferably, L¹ and L² denote F, or one of L¹ and L² denotes F and the other denotes Cl, and L³ and L⁴ denote F, or one of L³ and L⁴ denotes F and the other denotes Cl.

The compounds of formula AN are preferably selected from the following sub-formulae:

in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-7 C atoms. Alkenyl and alkenyl* preferably denote CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.

The compounds of formula AY are preferably selected from the following sub-formulae:

in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-7 C atoms. Alkenyl preferably denotes CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula AN are selected from the following sub-formulae:

in which m denotes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, i denotes 0, 1, 2 or 3, and R^(b1) denotes H, CH₃ or C₂H₅,

Especially preferred are the following compounds:

Most preferred is the compound of formula AN1a1.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula AY are selected from the following sub-formulae:

in which m and n each, independently of one another, denote 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, and alkenyl denotes CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.

In a first preferred embodiment the LC medium contains an LC host mixture based on compounds with negative dielectric anisotropy. Such LC media are especially suitable for use in PSA-VA displays. Particularly preferred embodiments of such an LC medium, and the corresponding LC host mixture, are those of sections a)-y) below:

-   a) LC medium which comprises one or more compounds of the formulae     CY and/or PY:

-   -   wherein     -   a denotes 1 or 2,     -   b denotes 0 or 1,

-   -   R¹ and R² each, independently of one another, denote alkyl         having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two         non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—,         —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked         directly to one another, preferably alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to         6 C atoms,     -   Z^(x) and Z^(y) each, independently of one another, denote         —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CO—O—,         —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CH—CH₂O— or a single bond,         preferably a single bond,     -   L¹⁻⁴ each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl, OCF₃,         CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂.     -   Preferably, both L¹ and L² denote F or one of L¹ and L² denotes         F and the other denotes Cl, or both L³ and L⁴ denote F or one of         L³ and L⁴ denotes F and the other denotes Cl.     -   The compounds of the formula CY are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which a denotes 1 or 2, alkyl and alkyl* each, independently         of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6         C atoms, and alkenyl denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical         having 2-6 C atoms, and (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single         bond. Alkenyl preferably denotes CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—,         CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH—         or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.     -   The compounds of the formula PY are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another,         denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and         alkenyl denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C         atoms, and (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond. Alkenyl         preferably denotes CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—,         CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or         CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.

-   b) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more compounds of     the following formula:

-   -   in which the individual radicals have the following meanings:

-   -   R³ and R⁴ each, independently of one another, denote alkyl         having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or two         non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—,         —O—CO— or —CO—O— in such a way that O atoms are not linked         directly to one another,     -   Z^(y) denotes —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—,         —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CH—CH₂O— or a single bond,         preferably a single bond.     -   The compounds of the formula ZK are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another,         denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and         alkenyl denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C         atoms. Alkenyl preferably denotes CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—,         CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH—         or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.

-   c) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more compounds of     the following formula:

-   -   in which the individual radicals on each occurrence, identically         or differently, have the following meanings:     -   R⁵ and R⁶ each, independently of one another, have one of the         meanings indicated above for R¹,

and

-   -   e denotes 1 or 2.     -   The compounds of the formula DK are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another,         denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and         alkenyl denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C         atoms. Alkenyl preferably denotes CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—,         CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH—         or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.

-   d) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more compounds of     the following formula:

-   -   in which the individual radicals have the following meanings:

-   -   f denotes 0 or 1,     -   R¹ and R² each, independently of one another, denote alkyl         having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two         non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—,         —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked         directly to one another,     -   Z^(x) and Z^(y) each, independently of one another, denote         —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CO—O—,         —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CH—CH₂O— or a single bond,         preferably a single bond,     -   L¹ and L² each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl,         OCF₃, CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂.     -   Preferably, both radicals L¹ and L² denote F or one of the         radicals L¹ and L² denotes F and the other denotes Cl.     -   The compounds of the formula LY are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which R¹ has the meaning indicated above, alkyl denotes a         straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, (O) denotes an         oxygen atom or a single bond, and v denotes an integer from 1         to 6. R¹ preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl having 1 to 6 C         atoms or straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms, in         particular CH₃, C₂H₅, n-C₃H₇, n-C₄H₉, n-O₅H₁₁, CH₂═CH—,         CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—,         CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.

-   e) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more compounds     selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl denotes C₁₋₆-alkyl, L^(x) denotes H or F, and X         denotes F, Cl, OCF₃, OCHF₂ or OCH═CF₂. Particular preference is         given to compounds of the formula G1 in which X denotes F.

-   f) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more compounds     selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

-   -   in which R⁵ has one of the meanings indicated above for R¹,         alkyl denotes C₁₋₆-alkyl, d denotes 0 or 1, and z and m each,         independently of one another, denote an integer from 1 to 6. R⁵         in these compounds is particularly preferably C₁₋₆-alkyl or         -alkoxy or C₂₋₆-alkenyl, d is preferably 1. The LC medium         according to the invention preferably comprises one or more         compounds of the above-mentioned formulae in amounts of 5% by         weight.

-   g) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more biphenyl     compounds selected from the group consisting of the following     formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another,         denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and         alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote         a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms. Alkenyl and         alkenyl* preferably denote CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—,         CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or         CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.     -   The proportion of the biphenyls of the formulae B1 to B3 in the         LC mixture is preferably at least 3% by weight, in particular 5%         by weight.     -   The compounds of the formula B2 are particularly preferred.     -   The compounds of the formulae B1 to B3 are preferably selected         from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl* denotes an alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms. The         medium according to the invention particularly preferably         comprises one or more compounds of the formulae B1a and/or B2c.

-   h) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more terphenyl     compounds of the following formula:

-   -   in which R⁵ and R⁶ each, independently of one another, have one         of the meanings indicated above for R¹, and

-   -   each, independently of one another, denote

-   -   in which L⁵ denotes F or Cl, preferably F, and L⁶ denotes F, Cl,         OCF₃, CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F or CHF₂, preferably F.     -   The compounds of the formula T are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which R denotes a straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy radical         having 1-7 C atoms, R* denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical         having 2-7 C atoms, (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond,         and m denotes an integer from 1 to 6. R* preferably denotes         CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—,         CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.     -   R preferably denotes methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl,         hexyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy or pentoxy.     -   The LC medium according to the invention preferably comprises         the terphenyls of the formula T and the preferred sub-formulae         thereof in an amount of 0.5-30% by weight, in particular 1-20%         by weight.     -   Particular preference is given to compounds of the formulae T1,         T2, T3 and T21. In these compounds, R preferably denotes alkyl,         furthermore alkoxy, each having 1-5 C atoms.     -   The terphenyls are preferably employed in mixtures according to         the invention if the Δn value of the mixture is to be ≧0.1.         Preferred mixtures comprise 2-20% by weight of one or more         terphenyl compounds of the formula T, preferably selected from         the group of compounds T1 to T22.

-   i) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more compounds     selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

-   -   in which R¹ and R² have the meanings indicated above and         preferably each, independently of one another, denote         straight-chain alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms or straight-chain         alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms.     -   Preferred media comprise one or more compounds selected from the         formulae 01, 03 and 04.

-   k) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more compounds of     the following formula:

-   -   in which

-   -   R⁹ denotes H, CH₃, C₂H₅ or n-C₃H₇, (F) denotes an optional         fluorine substituent, and q denotes 1, 2 or 3, and R⁷ has one of         the meanings indicated for R¹, preferably in amounts of >3% by         weight, in particular ≧5% by weight and very particularly         preferably 5-30% by weight.     -   Particularly preferred compounds of the formula FI are selected         from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which R⁷ preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl, and R⁹         denotes CH₃, C₂H₅ or n-C₃H₇. Particular preference is given to         the compounds of the formulae FI1, FI2 and FI3.

-   l) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more compounds     selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

-   -   in which R⁸ has the meaning indicated for R¹, and alkyl denotes         a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms.

-   m) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more compounds     which contain a tetrahydronaphthyl or naphthyl unit, such as, for     example, the compounds selected from the group consisting of the     following formulae:

-   -   in which R¹⁰ and R¹¹ each, independently of one another, have         one of the meanings indicated for R¹, preferably denote         straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms or         straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms, and Z¹ and Z²         each, independently of one another, denote —C₂H₄—, —CH═CH—,         —(CH₂)₄—, —(CH₂)₃O—, —O(CH₂)₃—, —CH═CH—CH₂CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂CH═CH—,         —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—, —CF═CH—,         —CH═CF—, —CH₂— or a single bond.

-   n) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more     difluorodibenzo-chromans and/or chromans of the following formulae:

-   -   in which     -   R¹¹ and R¹² each, independently of one another, have the         meanings indicated above for R¹,     -   ring M is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene,     -   Z^(m) —C₂H₄—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—,     -   c is 0, 1 or 2,     -   preferably in amounts of 3 to 20% by weight, in particular in         amounts of 3 to 15% by weight.     -   Particularly preferred compounds of the formulae BC, CR and RC         are selected from the group consisting of the following         sub-formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another,         denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, (O)         denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond, c is 1 or 2, and         alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote         a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms. Alkenyl and         alkenyl* preferably denote CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—,         CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or         CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.     -   Very particular preference is given to mixtures comprising one,         two or three compounds of the formula RC2.

-   o) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more fluorinated     phenanthrenes and/or dibenzofurans of the following formulae:

-   -   in which R¹¹ and R¹² each, independently of one another, have         one of the meanings indicated for R¹, b denotes 0 or 1, L         denotes F, and r denotes 1, 2 or 3.     -   Particularly preferred compounds of the formulae PH and BF are         selected from the group consisting of the following         sub-formulae:

-   -   in which R and R′ each, independently of one another, denote a         straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy radical having 1-7 C atoms.

-   p) LC medium which additionally comprises one or more monocyclic     compounds of the following formula

-   -   wherein     -   R¹ and R² each, independently of one another, denote alkyl         having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two         non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—,         —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked         directly to one another, preferably alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to         6 C atoms,     -   L¹ and L² each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl,         OCF₃, CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂.     -   Preferably, both L¹ and L² denote F or one of L¹ and L² denotes         F and the other denotes Cl,     -   The compounds of the formula Y are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which, Alkyl and Alkyl* each, independently of one another,         denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, Alkoxy         and Alkoxy* each, independently of one another, denote a         straight-chain alkoxy radical having 1-6 C atoms, Alkenyl and         Alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a         straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms, and (O)         denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond. Alkenyl and Alkenyl*         preferably denote CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—,         CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or         CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.     -   Particularly preferred compounds of the formula Y are selected         from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   wherein Alkoxy preferably denotes straight-chain alkoxy with 3,         4, or 5 C atoms.

-   q) LC medium which, apart from the polymerizable compounds according     to the invention, in particular of the formula I or sub-formulae     thereof and the comonomers, comprises no compounds which contain a     terminal vinyloxy group (—O—CH═CH₂).

-   r) LC medium which comprises 1 to 5, preferably 1, 2 or 3,     polymerizable compounds, preferably selected from polymerizable     compounds according to the invention, in particular of the formula I     or sub-formulae thereof.

-   s) LC medium in which the proportion of polymerizable compounds, in     particular of the formula I or sub-formulae thereof, in the mixture     as a whole is 0.05 to 5%, preferably 0.1 to 1%.

-   t) LC medium which comprises 1 to 8, preferably 1 to 5, compounds of     the formulae CY1, CY2, PY1 and/or PY2. The proportion of these     compounds in the mixture as a whole is preferably 5 to 60%,     particularly preferably 10 to 35%. The content of these individual     compounds is preferably in each case 2 to 20%.

-   u) LC medium which comprises 1 to 8, preferably 1 to 5, compounds of     the formulae CY9, CY10, PY9 and/or PY10. The proportion of these     compounds in the mixture as a whole is preferably 5 to 60%,     particularly preferably 10 to 35%. The content of these individual     compounds is preferably in each case 2 to 20%.

-   v) LC medium which comprises 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 8, compounds     of the formula ZK, in particular compounds of the formulae ZK1, ZK2     and/or ZK6. The proportion of these compounds in the mixture as a     whole is preferably 3 to 25%, particularly preferably 5 to 45%. The     content of these individual compounds is preferably in each case 2     to 20%.

-   w) LC medium in which the proportion of compounds of the formulae     CY, PY and ZK in the mixture as a whole is greater than 70%,     preferably greater than 80%.

-   x) LC medium in which the LC host mixture contains one or more     compounds containing an alkenyl group, preferably selected from the     group consisting of formula CY, PY and LY, wherein one or both of R¹     and R² denote straight-chain alkenyl having 2-6 C atoms, formula ZK     and DK, wherein one or both of R³ and R⁴ or one or both of R⁵ and R⁶     denote straight-chain alkenyl having 2-6 C atoms, and formula B2 and     B3, very preferably selected from formulae CY15, CY16, CY24, CY32,     PY15, PY16, ZK3, ZK4, DK3, DK6, B2 and B3, most preferably selected     from formulae ZK3, ZK4, B2 and B3. The concentration of these     compounds in the LC host mixture is preferably from 2 to 70%, very     preferably from 3 to 55%.

-   y) LC medium which contains one or more, preferably 1 to 5,     compounds selected of formula PY1-PY8, very preferably of formula     PY2. The proportion of these compounds in the mixture as a whole is     preferably 1 to 30%, particularly preferably 2 to 20%. The content     of these individual compounds is preferably in each case 1 to 20%.

-   z) LC medium which contains one or more, preferably 1, 2 or 3,     compounds of formula T2. The content of these compounds in the     mixture as a whole is preferably 1 to 20%.

In a second preferred embodiment the LC medium contains an LC host mixture based on compounds with positive dielectric anisotropy. Such LC media are especially suitable for use in PSA-OCB-, PSA-TN-, PSA-Posi-VA-, PSA-IPS- or PSA-FFS-displays.

Particularly preferred is an LC medium, and an LC host mixture, of this second preferred embodiment, which contains one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of compounds of formula AA and BB

and optionally contains, in addition to the compounds of formula AA and/or BB, one or more compounds of formula CC

in which the individual radicals have the following meanings:

each, independently of one another, and on each occurrence, identically or differently

each, independently of one another, and on each occurrence, identically or differently

-   R²¹, R³¹, R⁴¹, R⁴² each, independently of one another, alkyl,     alkoxy, oxaalkyl or fluoroalkyl having 1 to 9 C atoms or alkenyl     having 2 to 9 C atoms, -   X⁰ F, Cl, halogenated alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms or     halogenated alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 6 C atoms, -   Z³¹ —CH₂CH₂—, —CF₂CF₂—, —COO—, trans-CH═CH—, trans-CF═CF—, —CH₂O— or     a single bond, preferably —CH₂CH₂—, —COO—, trans-CH═CH— or a single     bond, particularly preferably —COO—, trans-CH═CH— or a single bond, -   Z⁴¹, Z⁴² —CH₂CH₂—, —COO—, trans-CH═CH—, trans-CF═CF—, —CH₂O—,     —CF₂O—, —C═C— or a single bond, preferably a single bond, -   L²¹, L²², L³¹, L³² H or F, -   g 0, 1, 2 or 3, -   h 0, 1, 2 or 3.

X⁰ is preferably F, Cl, CF₃, CHF₂, OCF₃, OCHF₂, OCFHCF₃, OCFHCHF₂, OCFHCHF₂, OCF₂CH₃, OCF₂CHF₂, OCF₂CHF₂, OCF₂CF₂CHF₂, OCF₂CF₂CHF₂, OCFHCF₂CF₃, OCFHCF₂CHF₂, OCF₂CF₂CF₃, OCF₂CF₂CClF₂, OCClFCF₂CF₃ or CH═CF₂, very preferably F or OCF₃

The compounds of formula AA are preferably selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

in which A²¹, R²¹, X⁰, L²¹ and L²² have the meanings given in formula AA, L²³ and L²⁴ each, independently of one another, are H or F, and X⁰ is preferably F. Particularly preferred are compounds of formulae AA1 and AA2.

Particularly preferred compounds of formula AA1 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R⁰ has one of the meanings given for R²¹ in formula AA1, X⁰, L²¹ and L²² have the meaning given in formula AA1, L²³, L²⁴, L²⁵ and L²⁶ are each, independently of one another, H or F, and X⁰ is preferably F.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula AA1 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

In which R⁰ has the meaning given for R²¹ in formula AA1.

Very preferred compounds of formula AA2 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R⁰ has the meaning given for R²¹ in formula AA2, X⁰, L²¹, L²² L²³, and L²⁴ have the meaning given in formula AA2, L²⁵ and L²⁶ each, independently of one another, are H or F, and X⁰ is preferably F.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula AA2 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R⁰ has the meaning given for R²¹ in formula AA2.

Particularly preferred compounds of formula AA3 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R⁰ has the meaning given for R²¹ in formula AA3, X⁰, L²¹ and L²² have the meaning given in formula AA3, and X⁰ is preferably F.

Particularly preferred compounds of formula AA4 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R⁰ has the meaning given for R²¹ in formula AA4.

The compounds of formula BB are preferably selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

in which A³¹, A³², R³¹, X⁰, g, L³¹ and L³² have the meanings given in formula BB, and X⁰ is preferably F. Particularly preferred are compounds of formulae BB1 and BB2.

Particularly preferred compounds of formula BB1 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB1, X⁰, L³¹ and L³² have the meanings given in formula BB1, and X⁰ is preferably F.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula BB1 a are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB1.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula BB1 b are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB1.

Particularly preferred compounds of formula BB2 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has one of the meanings given for R³¹ in formula BB2, X³ has one of the meanings given for X⁰ in formula BB2, L³¹ and L³² have the meanings given in formula BB2, L³³, L³⁴, L³⁵ and L³⁶ are each, independently of one another, H or F, and X³ is preferably F.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula BB2 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB2.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula BB2b are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB2.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula BB2c are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB2.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula BB2d and BB2e are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB2.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula BB2f are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB2.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula BB2g are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB2.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula BB2h are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB2 and X³ has one of the meanings given for X⁰ in formula BB2.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula BB2i are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB2 and X³ has one of the meanings given for X⁰ in formula BB2.

Very particularly preferred compounds of formula BB2k are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB2 and X³ has one of the meanings given for X⁰ in formula BB2.

Alternatively to, or in addition to, the compounds of formula BB1 and/or BB2 the LC media may also comprise one or more compounds of formula BB3 as defined above.

Particularly preferred compounds of formula BB3 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R³ has the meaning given for R³¹ in formula BB3.

Preferably the LC media according to this second preferred embodiment comprise, in addition to the compounds of formula AA and/or BB, one or more dielectrically neutral compounds having a dielectric anisotropy in the range from −1.5 to +3, preferably selected from the group of compounds of formula CC as defined above.

Particularly preferred compounds of formula CC are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

In which R⁴¹ and R⁴² have the meanings given in formula CC, and preferably denote each, independently of one another, alkyl, alkoxy, or fluorinated alkyl with 1 to 7 C atoms, or alkenyl, or alkoxyalkyl with 2 to 7 C atoms, and L⁴ is H or F.

Preferably the LC media according to this second preferred embodiment comprise, in addition or alternatively to the dielectrically neutral compounds of formula CC, one or more dielectrically neutral compounds having a dielectric anisotropy in the range from −1.5 to +3, selected from the group of compounds of formula DD.

In which A⁴¹, A⁴², Z⁴¹, Z⁴², R⁴¹, R⁴² and h have the meanings given in formula CC.

Particularly preferred compounds of formula DD are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R⁴¹ and R⁴² have the meanings given in formula DD and R⁴¹ preferably denotes alkyl, and in formula DD1 R⁴² preferably denotes alkenyl, particularly preferably —(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—CH₃, and in formula DD2 R⁴² preferably denotes alkyl, —(CH₂)₂—CH═CH₂ or —(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—CH₃.

The compounds of formula AA and BB are preferably used in the LC medium according to the invention in a concentration from 2% to 60%, more preferably from 3% to 35%, and very particularly preferably from 4% to 30% in the mixture as a whole.

The compounds of formula CC and DD are preferably used in the LC medium according to the invention in a concentration from 2% to 70%, more preferably from 5% to 65%, even more preferably from 10% to 60%, and very particularly preferably from 10%, preferably 15%, to 55% in the mixture as a whole.

The combination of compounds of the preferred embodiments mentioned above with the polymerized compounds described above causes low threshold voltages, low rotational viscosities and very good low-temperature stabilities in the LC media according to the invention at the same time as constantly high clearing points and high HR values, and allows the rapid establishment of a particularly low pretilt angle in PSA displays. In particular, the LC media exhibit significantly shortened response times, in particular also the grey-shade response times, in PSA displays compared with the media from the prior art.

The liquid crystal mixture preferably has a nematic phase range of at least 80 K, particularly preferably at least 100 K, and a rotational viscosity of not greater than 250 mPa·s, preferably not greater than 200 mPa·s, very preferably not greater than 150 mPa·s, at 20° C.

In the VA-type displays according to the invention, the molecules in the layer of the LC medium in the switched-off state are aligned perpendicular to the electrode surfaces (homeotropically) or have a tilted homeotropic alignment. On application of an electrical voltage to the electrodes, a realignment of the LC molecules takes place with the longitudinal molecular axes parallel to the electrode surfaces.

LC media according to the invention based on compounds with negative dielectric anisotropy according to the first preferred embodiment, in particular for use in displays of the PSA-VA type, have a negative dielectric anisotropy Δ∈, preferably from −0.5 to −10, in particular from −2.5 to −7.5, at 20° C. and 1 kHz.

The birefringence Δn in LC media according to the invention for use in displays of the PSA-VA type is preferably below 0.16, particularly preferably from 0.06 to 0.14, very particularly preferably from 0.07 to 0.12.

In the OCB-type displays according to the invention, the molecules in the layer of the LC medium have a “bend” alignment. On application of an electrical voltage, a realignment of the LC molecules takes place with the longitudinal molecular axes perpendicular to the electrode surfaces.

LC media according to the invention for use in displays of the PSA-OCB type are preferably those based on compounds with positive dielectric anisotropy according to the second preferred embodiment, and preferably have a positive dielectric anisotropy Δ∈ from +4 to +17 at 20° C. and 1 kHz.

The birefringence Δn in LC media according to the invention for use in displays of the PSA-OCB type is preferably from 0.14 to 0.22, particularly preferably from 0.16 to 0.22.

LC media according to the invention, based on compounds with positive dielectric anisotropy according to the second preferred embodiment, for use in displays of the PSA-TN-, PSA-posi-VA-, PSA-IPS- or PSA-FFS-type, preferably have a positive dielectric anisotropy Δ∈ from +2 to +30, particularly preferably from +3 to +20, at 20° C. and 1 kHz.

The birefringence Δn in LC media according to the invention for use in displays of the PSA-TN-, PSA-posi-VA-, PSA-IPS- or PSA-FFS-type is preferably from 0.07 to 0.15, particularly preferably from 0.08 to 0.13.

The LC media according to the invention may also comprise further additives which are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature, such as, for example, polymerization initiators, inhibitors, stabilizers, surface-active substances or chiral dopants. These may be polymerizable or non-polymerizable. Polymerizable additives are accordingly ascribed to the polymerizable component or component A). Non-polymerizable additives are accordingly ascribed to the non-polymerizable component or component B).

In a preferred embodiment the LC media contain one or more chiral dopants, preferably in a concentration from 0.01 to 1%, very preferably from 0.05 to 0.5%. The chiral dopants are preferably selected from the group consisting of compounds from Table B below, very preferably from the group consisting of R- or S-1011, R- or S-2011, R- or S-3011, R- or S-4011, and R- or S-5011.

In another preferred embodiment the LC media contain a racemate of one or more chiral dopants, which are preferably selected from the chiral dopants mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Furthermore, it is possible to add to the LC media, for example, 0 to 15% by weight of pleochroic dyes, furthermore nanoparticles, conductive salts, preferably ethyldimethyldodecylammonium 4-hexoxybenzoate, tetrabutyl-ammonium tetraphenylborate or complex salts of crown ethers (cf., for example, Haller et al., Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 24, 249-258 (1973)), for improving the conductivity, or substances for modifying the dielectric anisotropy, the viscosity and/or the alignment of the nematic phases. Substances of this type are described, for example, in DE-A 22 09 127, 22 40 864, 23 21 632, 23 38 281, 24 50 088, 26 37 430 and 28 53 728.

The individual components of the preferred embodiments a)-z) of the LC media according to the invention are either known or methods for the preparation thereof can readily be derived from the prior art by the person skilled in the relevant art, since they are based on standard methods described in the literature. Corresponding compounds of the formula CY are described, for example, in EP-A-0 364 538. Corresponding compounds of the formula ZK are described, for example, in DE-A-26 36 684 and DE-A-33 21 373.

The LC media which can be used in accordance with the invention are prepared in a manner conventional per se, for example by mixing one or more of the above-mentioned compounds with one or more polymerizable compounds as defined above, and optionally with further liquid crystalline compounds and/or additives. In general, the desired amount of the components used in lesser amount is dissolved in the components making up the principal constituent, advantageously at elevated temperature. It is also possible to mix solutions of the components in an organic solvent, for example in acetone, chloroform or methanol, and to remove the solvent again, for example by distillation, after thorough mixing. The invention furthermore relates to the process for the preparation of the LC media according to the invention.

It goes without saying to the person skilled in the art that the LC media according to the invention may also comprise compounds in which, for example, H, N, O, Cl, F have been replaced by the corresponding isotopes.

The structure of the LC displays according to the invention corresponds to the usual geometry for PSA displays, as described in the prior art cited at the outset. Geometries without protrusions are preferred, in particular those in which, in addition, the electrode on the color filter side is unstructured and only the electrode on the TFT side has slots. Particularly suitable and preferred electrode structures for PSA-VA displays are described, for example, in US 2006/0066793 A1.

The following examples explain the present invention without restricting it. However, they show the person skilled in the art preferred mixture concepts with compounds preferably to be employed and the respective concentrations thereof and combinations thereof with one another. In addition, the examples illustrate which properties and property combinations are accessible.

The following abbreviations are used:

(n, m, z: in each case, independently of one another, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6)

TABLE A

  CCH-nm

  CCH-nOm

  CC-n-V

  CC-n-V1

  CC-n-mV

  PP-n-m

  PP-n-Om

  PP-n-Vm

  PCH-nm

  PCH-nOm

  CY-n-Om

  CY-n-m

  CY-V-Om

  CY-nV-(O)m

  CVC-n-m

  CVY-V-m

  CEY-V-m

  PY-n-(O)m

  CCP-V-m

  CCP-Vn-m

  CCY-n-m

  CCY-n-Om

  CCY-V-m

  CCY-Vn-m

  CCY-V-Om

  CCY-n-OmV

  CCY-n-zOm

  CCOC-n-m

  CPY-n-(O)m

  CPY-V-Om

  CEY-n-Om

  CEY-n-m

  COY-n-Om

  COY-n-m

  CCEY-n-Om

  CCEY-n-m

  CCOY-n-Om

  CCOY-n-m

  CQY-n-(O)m

  CQIY-n-(O)m

  CCQY-n-(O)m

  CCQIY-n-(O)m

  CPQY-n-(O)m

  CPQIY-n-Om

  CLY-n-(O)m

  CYLI-n-m

  LYLI-n-m

  LY-n-(O)m

  PGIGI-n-F

  PGP-n-m

  PYP-n-(O)m

  PYP-n-mV

  YPY-n-m

  YPY-n-mV

  BCH-nm

  BCH-nmF

  CPYP-n-(O)m

  CPGP-n-m

  CCZPC-n-m

  CGCC-n-m

  CPYC-n-m

  CYYC-n-m

  CCYY-n-m

  CPYG-n-(O)m

  CBC-nm

  CBC-nmF

  CNap-n-Om

  CCNap-n-Om

  CENap-n-Om

  CTNap-n-Om

  CETNap-n-Om

  CK-n-F

  DFDBC-n(O)-(O)m

  C-DFDBF-n-(O)m

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the LC media according to the invention comprise one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of compounds from Table A.

TABLE B Table B shows possible chiral dopants which can be added to the LC media according to the invention.

C 15

CB 15

CM 21

R/S-811

CM 44

CM 45

CM 47

CN

R/S-2011

R/S-3011

R/S-4011

R/S-5011

R/S-1011

The LC media preferably comprise 0 to 10% by weight, in particular 0.01 to 5% by weight, particularly preferably 0.1 to 3% by weight, of dopants. The LC media preferably comprise one or more dopants selected from the group consisting of compounds from Table B.

TABLE C Table C shows possible stabilizers which can be added to the LC media according to the invention. (n here denotes an integer from 1 to 12, preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, terminal methyl groups are not shown).

The LC media preferably comprise 0 to 10% by weight, in particular 1 ppm to 5% by weight, particularly preferably 1 ppm to 1% by weight, of stabilizers. The LC media preferably comprise one or more stabilizers selected from the group consisting of compounds from Table C.

TABLE D Table D shows illustrative compounds which can be used in the LC media in accordance with the present invention, preferably as reactive mesogenic compounds.

RM-1

RM-2

RM-3

RM-4

RM-5

RM-6

RM-7

RM-8

RM-9

RM-10

RM-11

RM-12

RM-13

RM-14

RM-15

RM-16

RM-17

RM-18

RM-19

RM-20

RM-21

RM-22

RM-23

RM-24

RM-25

RM-26

RM-27

RM-28

RM-29

RM-30

RM-31

RM-32

RM-33

RM-34

RM-35

RM-36

RM-37

RM-38

RM-39

RM-40

RM-41

RM-42

RM-43

RM-44

RM-45

RM-46

RM-47

RM-48

RM-49

RM-50

RM-51

RM-52

RM-53

RM-54

RM-55

RM-56

RM-57

RM-58

RM-59

RM-60

RM-61

RM-62

RM-63

RM-64

RM-65

RM-66

RM-67

RM-68

RM-69

RM-70

RM-71

RM-72

RM-73

RM-74

RM-75

RM-76

RM-77

RM-78

RM-79

RM-80

RM-81

RM-82

RM-83

RM-84

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mesogenic media comprise one or more compounds selected from the group of the compounds from Table D.

In addition, the following abbreviations and symbols are used:

-   V₀ threshold voltage, capacitive [V] at 20° C., -   n_(e) extraordinary refractive index at 20° C. and 589 nm, -   n_(o) ordinary refractive index at 20° C. and 589 nm, -   Δn optical anisotropy at 20° C. and 589 nm, -   ∈_(⊥) dielectric permittivity perpendicular to the director at     20° C. and 1 kHz, -   ∈_(∥) dielectric permittivity parallel to the director at 20° C. and     1 kHz, -   Δ∈ dielectric anisotropy at 20° C. and 1 kHz, -   cl.p., T(N,I) clearing point [° C.], -   γ₁ rotational viscosity at 20° C. [mPa·s], -   K₁ elastic constant, “splay” deformation at 20° C. [pN], -   K₂ elastic constant, “twist” deformation at 20° C. [pN], -   K₃ elastic constant, “bend” deformation at 20° C. [pN].

Unless explicitly noted otherwise, all concentrations in the present application are quoted in percent by weight and relate to the corresponding mixture as a whole, comprising all solid or liquid crystalline components, without solvents.

Unless explicitly noted otherwise, all temperature values indicated in the present application, such as, for example, for the melting point T(C,N), the transition from the smectic (S) to the nematic (N) phase T(S,N) and the clearing point T(N,I), are quoted in degrees Celsius (° C.). M.p. denotes melting point, cl.p.=clearing point. Furthermore, C=crystalline state, N=nematic phase, S=smectic phase and I=isotropic phase. The data between these symbols represent the transition temperatures.

All physical properties are and have been determined in accordance with “Merck Liquid Crystals, Physical Properties of Liquid Crystals”, Status November 1997, Merck KGaA, Germany, and apply for a temperature of 20° C., and Δn is determined at 589 nm and Δ∈ at 1 kHz, unless explicitly indicated otherwise in each case.

The term “threshold voltage” for the present invention relates to the capacitive threshold (V₀), also known as the Freedericks threshold, unless explicitly indicated otherwise. In the examples, the optical threshold may also, as generally usual, be quoted for 10% relative contrast (V₁₀).

Unless stated otherwise, the process of polymerizing the polymerizable compounds in the PSA displays as described above and below is carried out at a temperature where the LC medium exhibits a liquid crystal phase, preferably a nematic phase, and most preferably is carried out at room temperature.

Unless stated otherwise, methods of preparing test cells and measuring their electrooptical and other properties are carried out by the methods as described hereinafter or in analogy thereto.

The display used for measurement of the capacitive threshold voltage consists of two plane-parallel glass outer plates at a separation of 25 μm, each of which has on the inside an electrode layer and an unrubbed polyimide alignment layer on top, which effect a homeotropic edge alignment of the liquid crystal molecules.

The display or test cell used for measurement of the tilt angles consists of two plane-parallel glass outer plates at a separation of 4 μm, each of which has on the inside an electrode layer and a polyimide alignment layer on top, where the two polyimide layers are rubbed antiparallel to one another and effect a homeotropic edge alignment of the liquid crystal molecules.

The polymerizable compounds are polymerized in the display or test cell by irradiation with UVA light of defined intensity for a prespecified time, with a voltage simultaneously being applied to the display (usually 10 V to 30 V alternating current, 1 kHz). In the examples, unless indicated otherwise, a metal halide lamp and an intensity of 100 mW/cm² is used for polymerization. The intensity is measured using a standard UVA meter (Hoenle UV-meter high end with UVA sensor).

The tilt angle is determined by crystal rotation experiment (Autronic-Melchers TBA-105). A low value (i.e. a large deviation from the 90° angle) corresponds to a large tilt here.

The VHR value is measured as follows: 0.3% of a polymerizable monomeric compound is added to the LC host mixture, and the resultant mixture is introduced into VA-VHR test cells (not rubbed, VA-polyimide alignment layer, LC-layer thickness d≈6 μm). The HR value is determined after 5 min at 100° C. before and after UV exposure at 1 V, 60 Hz, 64 μs pulse (measuring instrument: Autronic-Melchers VHRM-105).

A) LC Host Mixtures Comparison Example C1

The nematic LC host mixture C1 is formulated as follows.

CCH-501 9.00% cl.p. 70.0° C. CCH-35 14.00% Δn 0.0825 PCH-53 8.00% Δε −3.5 PCH-304FF 14.00% ε_(||) 3.5 PCH-504 13.00% K₃/K₁ 1.00 CCP-302FF 8.00% γ₁ 141 mPa s CCP-502FF 8.00% V₀ 2.10 V CCP-21FF 9.00% CCP-31FF 9.00% CPY-2-O2 8.00%

The mixture C1 does not contain an alkenyl compound.

Example 1

The nematic LC host mixture N1 is formulated as follows.

CY-3-O2 18.00% cl.p. +74.5° C. CPY-2-O2 10.00% Δn 0.1021 CPY-3-O2 10.00% Δε −3.1 CCY-3-O2 9.00% ε_(||) 3.5 CCY-4-O2 4.00% K₃/K₁ 1.16 CC-3-V 40.00% γ₁ 86 mPa s PYP-2-3 9.00% V₀ 2.29 V

The mixture N1 contains the alkenyl compound CC-3-V.

Example 2

The nematic LC host mixture N2 is formulated as follows.

CY-3-O2 15.00% cl.p. 74.5° C. CY-5-O2 6.50% Δn 0.1082 CCY-3-O2 11.00% Δε −3.0 CPY-2-O2 5.50% ε_(||) 3.6 CPY-3-O2 10.50% K₃/K₁ 1.21 CC-3-V 28.50% γ₁ 97 mPa s CC-3-V1 10.00% V₀ 2.42 V PYP-2-3 12.50% PPGU-3-F 0.50%

The mixture N2 contains the alkenyl compounds CC-3-V and CC-3-V1.

Example 3

The nematic LC host mixture N3 is formulated as follows.

CC-3-V 20.00% cl.p. 74.6° C. CC-3-V1 10.00% Δn 0.1042 CCH-35 9.00% Δε −3.1 CCP-3-1 7.00% ε_(||) 3.5 CCY-3-O2 13.00% K₃/K₁ 1.13 CPY-3-O2 13.00% γ₁ 94 mPa s CY-3-O2 8.00% V₀ 2.48 V PY-3-O2 15.00% PY-4-O2 5.00%

The mixture N3 contains the alkenyl compounds CC-3-V and CC-3-V1.

Example 4

The nematic LC host mixture N4 is formulated as follows.

CC-3-V 28.50% cl.p. 74.5° C. CCP-3-1 12.50% Δn 0.1077 CCOY-2-O2 19.00% Δε −3.2 CCOY-3-O2 11.50% ε_(||) 3.6 PY-3-O2 13.50% K₃/K₁ 0.91 PP-1-3 10.00% γ₁ 99 m Pas PYP-2-3 5.00% V₀ 2.34 V

The mixture N4 contains the alkenyl compound CC-3-V.

Example 5

The nematic LC host mixture N5 is formulated as follows.

CC-3-V 20.00% cl.p. 74.5° C. CC-3-V1 10.00% Δn 0.1084 CCH-34 8.00% Δε −3.2 CCH-35 4.00% ε_(||) 3.5 CCY-3-O1 5.50% K₃/K₁ 1.04 CCY-3-O2 12.00% γ₁ 94 mPa s CPY-2-O2 2.00% V₀ 2.33 V CPY-3-O2 12.00% PY-3-O2 15.00% PY-4-O2 8.50% PYP-2-3 3.00%

The mixture N5 contains the alkenyl compounds CC-3-V and CC-3-V1.

B) Polymerizable Mixtures

Polymerizable mixtures are prepared by adding in each case one of the monomers of Table 2 to one of the LC host mixtures of Example C1 and Examples 1 to 4, respectively, at a concentration of 0.3% by weight.

The structures of the monomers are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1

RM1

RM2

RM3

RM4

RM5

RM6

CRM1

CRM2

RM1 to RM6 represent trireactive monomers of formula I according to the present invention, which are trireactive and contain at least one spacer group, while CRM1 represents a comparison monomer which is direactive, and CRM2 represents a comparison monomer which is trireactive but does not contain a spacer group.

The names and compositions of the respective polymerizable mixtures are shown in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Monomer Host Mix. (0.3%) C1 N1 N2 N3 N4 N5 RM1 CP11 P11 P21 P31 P41 P51 RM2 CP12 P12 P22 P32 P42 P52 RM3 CP13 P13 P23 P33 P43 P53 RM4 CP14 P14 P24 P34 P44 P54 RM5 CP15 P15 P25 P35 P45 P55 RM6 CP16 P16 P26 P36 P46 P56 CRM1 CC11 C11 C21 C31 C41 C51 CRM2 CC12 C12 C22 C32 C42 C52

P11-P56 are polymerizable mixtures according to the present invention which contain a polymerizable compound of formula I and an alkenyl compound.

CP11-CP16 are comparison mixtures which contain a polymerizable compound of formula I, but do not contain an alkenyl compound.

C11-052 are comparison mixtures which contain an alkenyl compound, but do not contain a polymerizable compound of formula I.

CC11 and CC12 are comparison mixtures which do neither contain a polymerizable compound of formula I nor an alkenyl compound.

C) Use Examples

Each of the polymerizable mixtures is inserted into a VA e/o test cell (rubbed antiparallel, VA-polyimide alignment layer, LC-layer thickness d≈4 μm). The test cells are irradiated with UV light having an intensity of 100 mW/cm² for the time indicated with application of a voltage of 24 V_(rms) (alternating current), causing polymerization of the polymerizable monomeric compound.

The VHR values of the polymerizable mixtures before and after UV exposure are measured as described above. The results are shown in Tables 3-8, wherein “suntest” means an irradiation step with lower UV intensity but longer exposure time than the UV step.

TABLE 3 CC11 CC12 CP11 CP12 CP13 CP15 VHR/% 0 min UV 98.6 98.3 97.8 99.2 99.2 98.6 2 h Suntest 98.0 98.0 98.8 99.1 99.3 98.2

Table 3 shows the VHR of polymerizable comparison mixtures based on the alkenyl-free LC host mixture C1. The polymerizable mixtures CP11-13 and CP15 have similar high VHR after 2h suntest as the polymerizable mixtures CC-11 and CC12.

TABLE 4 C11 C12 P11 P12 P13 P15 VHR/%  0 min UV 98.6 98.7 97.2 98.8 98.8 97.5  2 h Suntest 91.0 91.7 96.3 95.5 97.4 89.2 10 min UV 84.6 86.8 95.4 94.7 96.5 88.4

Table 4 shows the VHR of polymerizable mixtures based on the alkenyl-containing LC host mixture N1. The polymerizable mixtures P11-P13 according to the present invention have the highest VHR after UV and suntest, followed by polymerizable mixture P15 according to the present invention, and polymerizable comparison mixture C12 which does not contain a polymerizable compound of formula I, while polymerizable comparison mixture C11, which contains a direactive polymerizable compound, shows the lowest values.

TABLE 5 C21 P21 P22 P23 VHR/%  0 min UV 98.7 98.5 98.7 98.8  2 min UV 94.5 95.1 97.0 96.4  5 min UV 94.4 95.6 96.8 96.8 15 min UV 90.6 95.4 95.5 96.3  5 min UV + 2 h suntest 95.3 96.6 95.6 97.1

Table 5 shows the VHR of polymerizable mixtures based on the alkenyl-containing LC host mixture N2. The polymerizable mixtures P21-23, which contain a polymerizable compound of formula I, have very high and stable VHR values after UV exposure, compared to the polymerizable mixture C21, which does not contain a polymerizable compound of formula I. After additional suntest the VHR values are also higher for the polymerizable mixtures P21-23, compared to C21.

TABLE 6 C31 P31 P32 VHR/%  0 min UV 96.1 96.0 96.0  5 min UV 90.1 96.3 96.3 15 min UV 83.8 93.2 95.5  5 min UV + 2 h suntest 86.4 93.1 94.7

Table 6 shows the VHR of polymerizable mixtures based on the alkenyl-containing LC host mixture N3. Again the polymerizable mixtures P31 and P32, which contain a polymerizable compound of formula I, have higher VHR after UV and suntest than polymerizable mixture C31, which does not contain a polymerizable compound of formula I.

TABLE 7 C41 P41 P42 VHR/%  0 min UV 98.4 98.3 98.0  5 min UV 82.8 90.6 87.4 15 min UV 46.4 62.8 61.4

Table 7 shows the VHR of polymerizable mixtures based on the alkenyl-containing LC host mixture N4. Again the polymerizable mixtures P41 and P42, which contain a polymerizable compound of formula I, have higher VHR after UV load than polymerizable comparison mixture C41, which does not contain a polymerizable compound of formula I.

TABLE 8 C51 P51 P52 VHR/%  0 min UV 98.5 98.6 98.4  2 min UV 95.2 97.2 97.3 15 min UV 92.1 96.3 95.7  2 min UV + 2 h suntest 94.9 97.2 95.8

Table 8 shows the VHR of polymerizable mixtures based on the alkenyl-containing LC host mixture N5. Again the polymerizable mixtures P51 and P52, which contain a polymerizable compound of formula I, have higher VHR after UV load than polymerizable comparison mixture C51, which does not contain a polymerizable compound of formula I.

In order to determine the polymerization rate, the residual content of unpolymerized RM (in % by weight) in the test cells is measured by HPLC after various exposure times. For this purpose each mixture is polymerized in the test cell under the stated conditions. The mixture is then rinsed out of the test cell using MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) and measured.

The residual concentrations of the respective monomer in the mixture after different exposure times are shown in Tables 9 and 10.

TABLE 9 CC11 CC12 CP11 CP12 Time/min Residual RM/% 0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 2 0.264 0.218 0.255 0.265 4 0.203 0.104 0.143 0.160 6 0.173 0.062 0.097 0.091

Table 9 shows the residual RM concentration after polymerization of polymerizable comparison mixtures based on the alkenyl-free LC host mixture C1. The mixtures CP11, CP12 and CC12 with a trireactive polymerizable compound RM1, RM2 and CRM2, respectively, have low residual RM concentrations and show faster polymerization than CC11 with a direactive polymerizable compound CRM1.

TABLE 10 C11 C12 P11 P12 P13 Time/min Residual RM/% 0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 2 0.185 0.195 0.164 0.164 0.176 6 0.067 0.087 0.054 0.062 0.055

Table 10 shows the residual RM concentration after polymerization of polymerizable mixtures based on the alkenyl-containing LC host mixture N1. Here the mixtures P11, P12 and P13 with a trireactive polymerizable compound RM1, RM2 and RM3 of formula I according to the present invention have a very low residual RM concentrations and show fast polymerization. On the other hand, the polymerizable mixture C12 containing polymerizable compound CRM2, which is also trireactive but is not a compound of formula I, shows no improvement over the polymerizable mixture CC11 with the direactive polymerizable compound CRM1.

This demonstrates that the trireactive compounds RM1, RM2 and RM3 of formula I according to the present invention show a significant improvement when used in an alkenyl-containing LC host mixture, compared both to the compound CRM2 which is also trireactive but is not a compound of formula I, and to the direactive compound CRM1.

The tilt angle is determined before and after UV irradiation by a crystal rotation experiment (Autronic-Melchers TBA-105). The tilt angle values are shown in Tables 11 to 13.

TABLE 11 CC11 CC12 CP11 CP12 CP13 UV-Time/sec Pretilt Angle/° 0 89.6 88.6 88.5 88.6 88.9 30 89.0 88.7 87.0 87.8 88.5 60 88.2 88.1 83.4 86.9 86.8 120 84.9 86.1 77.7 82.6 82.7

Table 11 shows the pretilt angle generation in polymerizable mixtures based on the alkenyl-free LC host mixture C1.

TABLE 12 C11 C12 P11 P12 P13 UV-Time/sec Pretilt Angle/° 0 88.8 87.9 88.3 89.0 88.7 120 77.2 79.3 77.3 73.3 72.8

Table 12 shows the pretilt angle generation in polymerizable mixtures based on the alkenyl-containing LC host mixture N1.

TABLE 13 C51 P51 P52 UV-Time/sec Pretilt Angle/° 0 89.2 89.5 89.1 30 89.2 89.5 89.4 60 87.5 81.7 87.7 120 81.0 74.4 76.7

Table 13 shows the pretilt angle generation in polymerizable mixtures based on the alkenyl-containing LC host mixture N5.

From Tables 11-13 it can be seen that in polymerizable mixtures with a polymerizable compound of formula I according to the present invention the pretilt angle generation is at least similar, or even stronger, compared to the pretilt angle generation in polymerizable comparison mixtures which do not contain a polymerizable compound of formula I. In addition, in the polymerizable mixtures according to the present invention the pretilt generation is faster than in the polymerizable comparison mixtures.

Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The preceding preferred specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.

The preceding examples can be repeated with similar success by substituting the generically or specifically described reactants and/or operating conditions of this invention for those used in the preceding examples.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited herein and of corresponding European patent application no. 13004443.1, filed Sep. 12, 2013, are incorporated by reference herein. 

1. A liquid crystal (LC) medium comprising one or more polymerizable compounds of formula I below, and further comprising one or more mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds comprising an alkenyl group,

in which the individual radicals have the following meanings m is 0 or 1, P¹, P², P³ independently of each other denote a polymerizable group, Sp¹, Sp², Sp³ independently of each other denote a spacer group or a single bond, wherein at least one of Sp¹, Sp² and Sp³ is different from a single bond, L denotes P-Sp-, F, Cl, Br, I, —CN, —NO₂, —NCO, —NCS, —OCN, —SCN, —C(═O)N(R^(x))₂, —C(═O)Y¹, —C(═O)R^(x), —N(R^(x))₂, optionally substituted silyl, optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl having 5 to 20 ring atoms, or straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 25, particularly preferably 1 to 10, C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH₂ groups are each optionally replaced, independently of one another, by —C(R⁰⁰)═C(R⁰⁰⁰)—, —C≡C—, —N(R⁰⁰)—, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, or —O—CO—O— in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms are each optionally replaced by F, Cl, CN or P-Sp-, Y¹ is halogen, R⁰⁰ and R⁰⁰⁰ each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, r is 0, 1, 2 or 3, R^(x) denotes P-Sp-, H, halogen, straight chain, branched or cyclic alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, wherein one or more non-adjacent CH₂— groups are each optionally replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, or —O—CO—O— in such a manner that O- and/or S-atoms are not directly connected with each other, and wherein one or more H atoms are each optionally replaced by F, Cl or P-Sp-, optionally substituted aryl, aryloxy, heteroaryl or heteroaryloxy having 5 to 20 ring atoms, P has one of the meanings given for P¹, Sp has one of the meanings given for Sp¹ or Sp².
 2. The LC medium of claim 1, wherein P, P¹, P² and P³ in formula I are selected from acrylate, methacrylate and oxetane.
 3. The LC medium of claim 1, wherein in the compounds of formula I those groups Sp¹, Sp² and Sp³ that are not a single bond are selected from *—(CH₂)_(p1)—, *—(CH₂)_(p2)—O—(CH₂)_(p3)—, *—(CH₂)_(p2)—S—(CH₂)_(p3)—, *—(CH₂)_(p2)—NH—(CH₂)_(p3)—, *—(CH₂)_(p1)—O—, *—(CH₂)_(p1)—CO—, *—(CH₂)₀—CO—O—,* —(CH₂)_(p1)—O—CO— and

wherein the asterisk (*) denotes the link to the respective polymerizable group(s), p1 is an integer from 1 to 12, and p2 and p3 are, independently of each other, an integer from 1 to
 6. 4. The LC medium of claim 1, wherein in the compounds of formula I at least one of the benzene rings is substituted by one or two fluorine atoms.
 5. The LC medium of claim 1, wherein the compounds of formula I are selected from the following subformulae:

wherein P¹, P², P³, Sp¹, Sp², Sp³, L and r have the meanings given in claim
 1. 6. The LC medium of claim 1, wherein the compounds of formula I are selected from the following subformulae:

wherein P¹, P² and P³ have the meanings given in claim 1, X is on each occurrence identically or differently —O—, —CO—O—, —O—CO— or a single bond, m and n are independently of each other 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, and one of m and n is different from
 0. 7. The LC medium of claim 1, comprising a polymerizable component A) comprising one or more polymerizable compounds, at least one of which is a compound of claim 1, and a liquid crystalline component B), comprising one or more mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds comprising an alkenyl group.
 8. The LC medium of claim 7 wherein in the said mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds which contain an alkenyl group, that said alkenyl group is selected from straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 7 C atoms and cyclohexenyl, in particular ethenyl (vinyl), propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, heptenyl, 1,4-cyclohexen-1-yl and 1,4-cyclohexen-3-yl.
 9. The LC medium of claim 8, wherein the concentration of the compounds containing an alkenyl group in component B is from 5% to 100%.
 10. The LC medium of claim 1, wherein the mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds containing an alkenyl group are selected from the following formulae:

in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, each, independently of one another, have the following meaning:

R¹¹ alkenyl having 2 to 9 C atoms or, if at least one of the rings X, Y and Z denotes cyclohexenyl, also one of the meanings of R¹², R¹² alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH₂ groups are each optionally replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—, —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, Z^(x) —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CH—CH₂O—, or a single bond, preferably a single bond, L¹⁻⁴ each, independently of one another, H, F, Cl, OCF₃, CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F or CHF₂H, preferably H, F or Cl, x 1 or 2, z 0 or
 1. 11. The LC medium of claim 1, wherein the mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds containing an alkenyl group are selected from the following formulae:

in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-7 C atoms, and alkenyl and alkenyl* preferably denote CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.
 12. The LC medium of claim 1, wherein the mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds containing an alkenyl group are selected from the following formulae:

in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-7 C atoms, and alkenyl preferably denotes CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.
 13. The LC medium of claim 1, wherein the mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds containing an alkenyl group are selected from the following formulae:

in which m denotes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, and i denotes 0, 1, 2 or 3, and R^(b1) denotes H, CH₃ or C₂H₅.
 14. The LC medium of claim 1, wherein the mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds containing an alkenyl group are selected from the following formulae:


15. The LC medium according to claim 1, comprising one or more compounds of the following formula:

in which the individual radicals have the following meanings:

R³ and R⁴ each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH₂ groups are each optionally replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—, —O—CO— or —CO—O— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, Z^(y) denotes —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —COO—, —OCO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF— or a single bond.
 16. The LC medium according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains at least one chiral dopant selected from Table B.
 17. The LC medium according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains at least one stabilizer selected from Table C.
 18. The LC medium according to claim 1, characterized in that the polymerizable compounds are polymerized.
 19. A method of generating an electroptical effect comprising applying a voltage an LC cell containing an LC medium according to claim 1, preferably a an LC cell in an LC display, especially a polymer sustained alignment.
 20. An LC display comprising an LC medium according to claim
 1. 21. The LC display according to claim 20, which is a PSA type display.
 22. The LC display according to claim 21, which is a PSA-VA, PSA-OCB, PSA-IPS, PS-FFS, PSA-posi-VA or PSA-TN display.
 23. The LC display according to claim 21, wherein said LC display contains an LC cell having two substrates and two electrodes, where at least one substrate is transparent to light and at least one substrate has one or two electrodes, and a layer, located between the substrates, of said LC medium comprising a polymerized component and a low-molecular-weight component, where the polymerized component is obtainable by polymerization of one or more polymerizable compounds between the substrates of the LC cell in said LC medium, preferably while applying an electrical voltage to the electrodes.
 24. A process for the production of an LC display according to claim 21, comprising the steps of filling said LC medium into an LC cell having two substrates and two electrodes, and polymerizing the polymerizable compounds, preferably while applying an electrical voltage to the electrodes.
 25. A process of preparing an LC medium according to claim 1, comprising: mixing said one or more mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds with said one or more polymerizable compounds, and optionally further liquid crystalline compounds and/or additives. 